Reserpine increases proenkephalin mRNA content in rat corpus striatum.
Single sc of reserpine increased the proenkephalin mRNA in rat corpus striatum dose-dependently at 24 h after injection. Reserpine did not change the proenkephalin mRNA in the basal hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal and spleen or the proopiomelanocortin mRNA in the basal hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal and spleen. The mechanism for reserpine to increase proenkephalin mRNA in the striatum is most likely via the removal of a tonic trans-synaptic dopaminergic inhibition on the enkephalinergic neurones.