Tuberoinfundibular Transport of Intrahypothalamic-Administered Dopamine in Normo- and Hypertensive Rats

ABSTRACT

The dopamine transport system in the tuberoinfundibular tract of the spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats was investigated. The results show that the rate of dopamine transport in this tract is strain-specific. SD rats transported twice as much dopamine (in 30 minutes) as WKY and SHR. The dopamine transport system in the SHR, being at par with that of the WKY, remained intact. These findings suggest that hypertension and the alleged reduced central dopaminergic activity in the SHR is not related to the transport of dopamine in the tuberoinfundibular tract.

Key Words::

• Dopamine
• tuberoinfundibular transport
• spontaneously hypertensive rats