Release of dopamine and serotonin from Limax ganglia in vitro

1. We wish to establish the kinetics of serotonin and dopamine release from Limax cerebral and buccal ganglia and find selective treatments to modify their release kinetics. 2. The release of dopamine and serotonin from isolated ganglia was stimulated by high potassium exposure with and without prior treatment of ganglia with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). 3. Single ganglia release significant quantities of monoamines during a single 5 min high K⁺ exposure. Multiple high K⁺ exposures deplete a readily releasable transmitter store with little effect on storage pools. 4. 6-OHDA exposure depletes readily releasable DA with little effect on total ganglion DA content or on serotonin. 5. Feeding motor program responsiveness is suppressed reversibly by whole ganglion high K⁺ treatment.