Acute effect of nicotine on the striatal dopaminergic system in the rat

The acute effects of nicotine (1.5 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) on the striatal dopaminergic system have been examined in the rat. Twenty‐four hours after nicotine treatment, spontaneous locomotor activity in response to apomorphine or (+)‐amphetamine and the binding of [³H]spiperone to striatal particulates were determined. Pretreatment of nicotine did not alter the characteristics of [³H]spiperone binding to striatal dopamine receptors. The nicotine treatment did not affect the apomorphine‐induced locomotor activity, however, the (+)‐ampnetamine‐stimulated locomotor activity was attenuated. These results suggest that nicotine acutely alters the presynaptic dopaminergic activity without significantly affecting the postsynaptic dopaminergic function. 1986 Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain