S(-)-nornicotine increases dopamine release in a calcium-dependent manner from superfused rat striatal slices.

The present study demonstrates that S(-)-nornicotine evoked a concentration-dependent increase in dopamine (DA) release from superfused rat striatal slices. The increase in DA release was indicated by an S(-)-nornicotine-induced overflow of endogenous 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the striatal superfusate and by an S(-)-nornicotine-induced increase in tritium overflow from striatal slices preloaded with [3H]DA. Low concentrations (0.01-1.0 microM) of S(-)-nornicotine, which did not evoke endogenous DOPAC overflow, also were unable to modulate electrically evoked DOPAC overflow. The increase in DOPAC overflow induced by S(-)-nornicotine was compared with that produced by S(-)-nicotine. Comparing equimolar concentrations (0.1-100 microM) of S(-)-nornicotine and S(-)-nicotine, superfusion with S(-)-nornicotine resulted in a significantly greater DOPAC overflow. In contrast to the effect of S(-)-nicotine, S(-)-nornicotine evoked a sustained increase in DOPAC overflow for the entire period of S(-)-nornicotine exposure. Furthermore, DOPAC overflow evoked by S(-)-nornicotine in control Krebs buffer was inhibited by superfusion with a low-calcium buffer. Moreover, in the low-calcium buffer, DOPAC overflow induced by 30 and 100 microM S(-)-nornicotine was not different from that with no S(-)-nicotine, tobacco products and a known metabolite of S(-)-nicotine, increases DA release in a calcium-dependent manner in superfused rat striatal slices. It is interesting that unlike S(-)-nicotine, there does not appear to be desensitization to this effect of S(-)-nornicotine.

Inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake into rat striatal slices by quaternary N-methylated nicotine metabolites.

The effects of quaternary N-methylated nicotine derivatives were examined on in vitro uptake of [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) in rat striatal slices. Striatal slices were incubated with a 10 microM concentration of the following compounds: N-methylnicotinium, N-methylnornicotinium, N-methylcotininium, N,N'-dimethylnicotinium and N'-methylnicotinium salts. The results clearly indicated that significant (60%) inhibition of [3H]DA uptake occurred with those compounds possessing a N-methylpyridinium group; whereas, compounds that were methylated at the N'-pyrrolidinium position were less effective or exhibited no inhibition of [3H]DA uptake. The results suggest that high concentrations of quaternary N-methylated nicotine metabolites which are structurally related to the neurotoxin MPP+, and which may be formed in the CNS, may protect against Parkinson's Disease and explain the inverse relationship between smoking and Parkinsonism reported in epidemiologic studies.