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Abstract
Rationale
Atomoxetine is a noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor licensed for the treatment of adult and childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Although atomoxetine has established efficacy, the mechanisms which mediate its effects are not well understood.
Objectives
In this study, we investigated the role of cortical versus subcortical noradrenaline using focal dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-saporin-induced lesions, to the prefrontal cortex (n=16) or nucleus accumbens shell (n=18).
Methods
Healthy animals were tested using the forced choice serial reaction time task to assess the impact of the lesion on baseline performance and the response to atomoxetine and the psychostimulant amphetamine.
Results
We observed attenuation in the efficacy of atomoxetine in animals with lesions to the nucleus accumbens shell, but not the prefrontal cortex. Amphetamine-induced increases in premature responses were potentiated in animals with lesions to the prefrontal cortex, but not the nucleus accumbens shell.
Conclusions
These data suggest that noradrenaline in the nucleus accumbens shell plays an important role in the effects of atomoxetine. Under these conditions, prefrontal cortex noradrenaline did not appear to contribute to atomoxetine’s effects suggesting a lack of cortical-mediated ‘topdown’ modulation. Noradrenaline in the prefrontal cortex appears to contribute to the modulation of impulsive responding in amphetamine treated animals, with a loss of noradrenaline associated with potentiation of its effects. These data demonstrate a potential dissociation between cortical and subcortical noradrenergic mechanisms and impulse control in terms of the actions of atomoxetine and amphetamine
Atomoxetine is a noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor licensed for the treatment of adult and childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Although atomoxetine has established efficacy, the mechanisms which mediate its effects are not well understood.
Objectives
In this study, we investigated the role of cortical versus subcortical noradrenaline using focal dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-saporin-induced lesions, to the prefrontal cortex (n=16) or nucleus accumbens shell (n=18).
Methods
Healthy animals were tested using the forced choice serial reaction time task to assess the impact of the lesion on baseline performance and the response to atomoxetine and the psychostimulant amphetamine.
Results
We observed attenuation in the efficacy of atomoxetine in animals with lesions to the nucleus accumbens shell, but not the prefrontal cortex. Amphetamine-induced increases in premature responses were potentiated in animals with lesions to the prefrontal cortex, but not the nucleus accumbens shell.
Conclusions
These data suggest that noradrenaline in the nucleus accumbens shell plays an important role in the effects of atomoxetine. Under these conditions, prefrontal cortex noradrenaline did not appear to contribute to atomoxetine’s effects suggesting a lack of cortical-mediated ‘topdown’ modulation. Noradrenaline in the prefrontal cortex appears to contribute to the modulation of impulsive responding in amphetamine treated animals, with a loss of noradrenaline associated with potentiation of its effects. These data demonstrate a potential dissociation between cortical and subcortical noradrenergic mechanisms and impulse control in terms of the actions of atomoxetine and amphetamine
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 255-266 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Psychopharmacology |
Volume | 234 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 15 Oct 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2017 |
Bibliographical note
3 October 2016Keywords
- Atomoxetine
- Amphetamine
- Noradrenaline
- Prefrontal cortex
- Nucleus accumbens
- Impulse control
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Differential roles for cortical versus sub-cortical noradrenaline and modulation of impulsivity in the rat'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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NORADRENERGIC MECHANISMS IN ATTENTION AND RESPONSE IN
Robinson, E. S. J. (Principal Investigator)
1/08/08 → 1/05/12
Project: Research
Profiles
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Professor Emma S J Robinson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience - Professor of Psychopharmacology
- Bristol Neuroscience
Person: Academic , Member