Activation of dopamine synthesis in mesolimbic dopamine neurons by immobilization stress in the rat

We investigated effects of immobilization stress and haloperidol on levodopa accumulation in caudate, mesolimbic area and frontal cortex of rats treated with an amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor. Immobilization stress for 35 min significantly increased levodopa accumulation in mesolimbic area but not in caudate and frontal cortex, although haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg, i.p., 60 min) enhanced levodopa accumulation in three brain regions. These results suggest that immobilization stress selectively accelerates dopamine synthesis in mesolimbic dopamine neurons.