SELECTIVE INCREASE OF BRAIN DOPAMINE SYNTHESIS BY SULPIRIDE

Abstract

—Sulpiride (5–200 mg/kg) increases brain HVA and DOPAC levels, causes no change in dopamine concentration, does not interfere with the outflow of HVA from the CNS and enhances the disappearance of brain dopamine after inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase. The compound influences neither 5-HT nor NE metabolism. The central action of sulpiride differs from that of classic neuroleptics in that this drug stimulates dopamine turnover without producing catalepsy.