Block of voltage-gated calcium channels stimulates dopamine efflux in rat mesocorticolimbic system

Dopamine (DA) efflux from terminals of the mesocorticolimbic system is linked to incentive motivation, drug dependency and schizophrenia. Strategies for modulating dopaminergic activity have focused on transmitter receptors or the DA transporter, not on DA release, largely due to lack of systemically available drugs acting at this level. Central synapses use two main calcium channels for excitation–secretion coupling, either P/Q-type, N-type, or both. Here we investigate changes in mesocorticolimbic DA efflux following administration of NP078585, a novel orally available calcium channel blocker exhibiting high affinity block of N- and T-types versus P/Q- and L-types. NP078585 was applied either intra peritoneally (i.p.; 2.5–10 mg/kg) or by reverse-dialysis (10–25 μM) into either the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) or the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), and the changes in DA levels in both the VTA and NAc were monitored using microdialysis. We found that both systemic and central administration of NP078585, but not vehicle, enhanced DA efflux in the NAc but not the VTA. The enhancement of DA levels was replicated by local applications of ω-conotoxin GVIA (2.5 μM), a selective peptide N-type channel blocker, to either VTA or NAc, suggesting N-type mediation. Furthermore, application of the GABAA-selective antagonist bicuculline (50 μM) to the VTA enhanced DA efflux in both VTA and NAc, and occluded the NP078585-induced enhancement in the latter structure. We propose that the actions of NP078585 and ω-conotoxin largely reflect block of N-type channels in terminals of GABAergic interneurons, leading to reduced GABA release, disinhibition of DA neurons and enhanced DA release in the NAc.