EFFECT OF KETANSERIN AND AMPHETAMINE ON NIGROSTRIATAL NEUROTRANSMISSION AND REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES

5-HT2A/2C receptors are one of the most important in controlling basal ganglia outputs. In rodent models of Parkinson's disease (PD) blockade of these receptors increases locomotion and enhances the actions of dopamine (DA) replacement therapy. Moreover, previously we established that 5-HT2A/2C antagonist attenuate DA D1 agonist mediated vacuous chewing movements (VCMs) which are considered as an animal representation of human dyskinesia. These findings implicate 5-HT neuronal phenotypes in basal ganglia pathology, and promote 5-HT2 antagonists as a rational treatment approach for dyskinesia that is prominent in most instances of PD replacement therapy. In the current study we determined whether ketanserin (KET) and/or amphetamine (AMPH) affected dopaminergic neurotranssmision in intact and fully DA-denervated rats. Moreover, we looked into extraneuronal content of HO. of the neostriatum after AMPH and/or KET injection, assessed by HPLC analysis of dihydroxybenzoic acids (2,3- and 2, 5-DHBA)- spin trap products of salicylate. Findings from the present study demonstrated that there are no substantial differences in extraneuronal HO. generation in the neostriatum between control an