CHANGES IN DOPAMINE LEVELS IN CORPUS STRIATUM FOLLOWING LESIONS IN SUBSTANTIA NIGRA

Electrolytic lesions were placed in the substantia nigra of brains of anesthetized rats and the dopamine content of the corpus striatum on the side on which the lesion was placed was compared with the dopamine content of the other side at intervals up to 10 days after operation. When the lesion involved a considerable amount of pars compacta with or without involvement of pars reticularis or adjacent tegmentum, the dopamine content of the corpus striatum on the side of the lesion was reduced below that of the unoperated side by 3 days after operation, and continued to fall up to 10 days after operation. Lesions not involving pars compacta had no effect on striatal dopamine content. Lesions which destroyed the ventromedial nucleus of the thalamus had no effect on striatal dopamine content. © 1969.