Fig. 2.
Changes in the content of norepinephrine (NE) (a), dopamine (DA) (b), 5-HT (c) in the amygdala; dopamine content in the striatum (d) and release of [3H]dopamine (e) in acute striatal slices in the absence of P2rx7. (a–d) P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice were treated with saline (Sal) or amphetamine (Amph, 2.5 mg/kg i.p.) and 30 min after the treatment were decapitated. NE, DA and 5-HT levels were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography in the amygdala and striatum and are expressed in pmol/mg protein. * Indicates significant differences between P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice and between Sal- and Amph-treated groups, as indicated (n = 7–8/group, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, two-way analysis of variance followed by Fischer's LSD test). (e) Basal, electrical field stimulation (EFS)- and Amph-induced [3H]dopamine efflux from striatal slices of P2rx7+/+ and P2rx7−/− mice. Striatal slices were incubated with [3H]dopamine and superfused with Krebs’ solution. EFS (20 V, 2 Hz, 240 shocks) and Amph (30 μm) were applied as indicated by the horizontal bars. The efflux of [3H]dopamine is expressed as fractional release, which represents the tritium content in a sample as a percentage of the actual total tritium content. Amph-induced [3H]dopamine release was significantly decreased in striatal slices of P2rx7−/− mice, whereas basal and electrical stimulation-induced efflux remained unchanged. n = 8/group, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, Student's t test.