Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 540, Issues 1–2, 1 February 1991, Pages 311-314
Brain Research

Haloperidol rapidly increases the number of neurotensin mRNA-expressing neurons in neostriatum of the rat brain

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(91)90526-2Get rights and content

Abstract

The effects of an acute low dose of haloperidol on neurotensin mRNA-containing cells in rat forebrain was studied using in situ hybridization histochemistry. Within 1 h of a single dose of haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg) a nearly 3-fold increase in the number of cells that express the neurotensin/neuromedin N-encoding mRNA was observed in the dorsolateral striatum. However, the number of hybridization-positive cells did not appear to be affected in the nucleus accumbens, or the septal nuclei following treatment with the neuroleptic.

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This work was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs Research Service and NIA Grant No. NS 20311. We are thankful for the neurotensin cDNA clone provided by Dr. Paul Dobner (University of Massachusetts). We are also thankful for the technical assistance provided by Cheryl Refsdal and Kimberly Donnell.

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