RESERPINE INCREASES STRIATAL NEUROTENSIN MESSENGER-RNA LEVELS

Reserpine administration has been shown to increase striatal tissue levels of neurotensin with a time course similar to that for striatal dopamine depletion. To determine whether reserpine treatment may increase striatal neurotensin synthesis we have examined striatal neurotensin mRNA levels using in situ hybridization histochemistry. The number of striatal cells expressing neurotensin mRNA was increased 6 h, but not 1 h, after reserpine administration. Thus, the increase in striatal tissue levels of neurotensin after reserpine may be due in part to an increase in peptide synthesis.