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Dopamine D4 receptor variant in Africans, D4valine194glycine, is insensitive to dopamine and clozapine: report of a homozygous individual.

The D4Valine194Glycine receptor is a variant of the dopamine D4 receptor and is found in 12.5% of the Afro-Caribbean population. Glycine replaces valine at a position one amino acid away from a serine which is critical for the attachment of dopamine. To determine whether this mutation had an effect on the properties of the dopamine D4 receptor, we constructed this variant and tested the sensitivity of the expressed protein with various drugs. We found that the variant receptor was two orders of magnitude less sensitive to dopamine, clozapine and olanzapine. The variant receptor was insensitive to guanine nucleotide, indicating the absence of a high-affinity state or functional state. The one 15-year-old individual found homozygous for this variant also had sickle cell disease. The patient revealed an overall pattern of low weight and no axillary or pubic hair.

Adolescent↗

5-HT2C (HTR2C) serotonin receptor gene polymorphism associated with the human personality trait of reward dependence: interaction with dopamine D4 receptor (D4DR) and dopamine D3 receptor (D3DR) polymorphisms.

We recently reported an association between the long repeat allele of the dopamine D4 exon III receptor polymorphism and a human personality dimension, novelty seeking, as measured by the tridimensional personality questionnaire (TPQ), a personality instrument designed by Cloninger to reflect heritable facets of human temperament. The D4 receptor polymorphism (D4DR) accounts for only a small percent of the variance for this trait, suggesting that additional genes influence both novelty seeking as well as the other temperaments that are inventoried by the Cloninger TPQ. In the current investigation, we examined, in the original cohort of 120 normal volunteers, two additional coding region polymorphisms, a glycine to serine substitution in the dopamine D3 receptor (D3DR) and a cysteine to serine substitution in the 5-HT2C serotonin receptor (HTR2C). Three-way analysis of variance (TPQ score grouped by D4DR, D3DR and 5-HT2C) demonstrated that reward dependence and persistence scores were significantly reduced by the presence of the less common 5-HT2Cser polymorphism. The effect of the serine substitution in this X-linked serotonin receptor polymorphism on reward dependence was also observed when male and female subject groups were separately analyzed. There was also a significant interaction between the two dopamine receptor polymorphisms and the serotonin polymorphism on reward dependence. In particular, the effect of the 5-HT2C polymorphism on reward dependence was markedly accentuated in individuals who had the long version of the D4DR exon III repeat polymorphism. When present in the same individual, the 5-HT2C and dopamine receptor polymorphisms account for 30% of the observed variance for persistence (RD2) and 13% of the variance for reward dependence scores (RD134). However, the number of subjects with both less common D4DR and 5-HT2C polymorphisms is small, underscoring the importance of verifying this interaction in a larger cohort.

Adult↗

Fetal ventral mesencephalic grafts functionally reduce the dopamine D2 receptor supersensitivity in partially dopamine reinnervated host striatum.

Grafting of ventral mesencephalic tissue in Parkinson's disease results in a partial dopaminergic reinnervation of host brain and dopamine agonist-induced rotational behavior is not completely reversed. To study a possible malfunction of the grafts, extracellular recordings with local applications of quinpirole were utilized and the neurophysiological results showed that a normalization of the upregulated dopamine D2 receptor supersensitivity occurred in reinnervated areas of the host striatum as well as in noninnervated areas remote from the graft innervation. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects on striatal nerve cell firing rate by the D1 receptor agonist SKF 81297 were not different in noninnervated or reinnervated areas of the striatum compared to the control side as seen from the dose-response curves. However, spontaneous striatal neuronal firing was significantly upregulated in noninnervated areas, while it was normalized in areas reached by graft-derived nerve fibers. Dual-probe microdialysis studying potassium-evoked glutamate release revealed that there was no difference in extracellular glutamate levels measured within or lateral to graft dopamine reinnervation. Thus, the upregulated spontaneous activity was not due to a difference in extracellular glutamate levels. The remaining rotational behavior seen after grafting was studied and recordings were performed in the striatum following systemic injection of the D1/D2 agonist apomorphine. The results revealed that apomorphine at the dose used to elicit turning behavior (0.05 mg/kg) still affected striatal neurons in noninnervated areas, while no effect was detected in reinnervated areas and in the intact side. However, a lower dose of apomorphine (0.005 mg/kg) showed no effects on striatal firing in graft reinnervated striata but only after dopamine depletion. In conclusion, the D2 supersensitivity is downregulated in graft-reinnervated striatum as well as in striatal areas lateral to the reinnervation when using selective D2 agonists, but the downregulation is not completely normalized when studying combined effects of D1/D2 agonists. Furthermore, the striatal neurons were firing significantly faster in noninnervated areas compared to reinnervated areas of graft-reinnervated striatum, which was most likely not due to changes in the glutamatergic input.

Animals↗

Altered striatal dopamine D2 receptor density and dopamine transport in a patient with hepatic encephalopathy.

A patient suffering from liver cirrhosis presented with a bradykinetic-rigid syndrome suspected as Parkinson's disease. A detailed work-up of the case revealed hepatic encephalopathy as the cause of the neurological symptomatology. An alteration of striatal dopamine D2 receptor binding and dopamine re-uptake sites was demonstrated by 123I-iodobenzamide (IBZM) and 123I-beta-CIT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), respectively. It is suggested that the alteration of the dopamine re-uptake in cirrhotics may be the cause of an increased catabolism of dopamine in HE.

Aged↗

Effects of prenatal exposure to methylmercury on dopamine-mediated locomotor activity and dopamine D2 receptor binding.

In the present study we have investigated the neurotoxic effects of the exposure to a low dose (0.5 mg/kg/day) of methylmercury (MeHg) on the developing nervous system. Pregnant rats were treated with MeHg from day 7 of pregnancy to day 7 of lactation. At postnatal day 20 the offspring did not display prominent functional cerebellar alterations, as evaluated by the Rotarod performance. Motor activity (locomotion, rearing and motility) was tested in the 21-day-old rats after administration of apomorphine, an agonist of D(1), D(2), and D(3) dopamine receptors. A low dose of apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg) induced a significantly stronger increase in motility and locomotion in MeHg-treated rats as compared to controls. The same effect was also observed in rats injected with 1 mg/kg apomorphine. No changes were observed in rearing at either doses of the dopamine receptor agonist. The data suggest that changes in dopaminergic transmission are induced by exposure to MeHg in early life. The expression of the striatal dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptors was examined by in situ hybridization in the striatum of the 21-day-old rats. The analysis did not reveal any significant changes at the mRNA level. Ligand autoradiography experiments showed a significant reduction in dopamine D(2) receptor binding in the caudate putamen of MeHg-treated rats. Spatial learning ability was tested in 2-month-old rats using the Morris swim maze test. Changes in retention were shown in MeHg-treated rats, indicating that MeHg induced memory alterations. Taken together, these findings show that exposure to a very low dose of MeHg during development exerts neurotoxic effects on the dopaminergic system and that alterations of brain functions persist in adult life.

Animals↗

Evidence that the enhancement of dopamine function by repeated electroconvulsive shock requires concomitant activation of D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptors.

In this study, the behavioural response to dopamine D1-like receptor agonists (SKF 38393, SKF 81297 and SKF 77434) and D2-like receptor agonists (quinpirole and RU 24213), administered alone and in combination to rats treated repeatedly with electroconvulsive shock (five ECS over 10 days) or sham, was tested. Agonist-induced behaviour was monitored by automated activity meters and direct observation using a checklist scoring method. Repeated ECS (compared to sham controls) had no significant effect on the behavioural response to SKF 38393 (7.5 mg/kg s.c.), SKF 81297 (0.2 mg/kg s.c.), SKF 77434 (0.1 mg/kg s.c.), quinpirole (0.1 and 0.25 mg/kg s.c.) or RU 24213 (0.3 mg/kg s.c.), when administered alone. In contrast, repeated ECS markedly increased locomotion (activity counts and scores) induced by the non-selective dopamine agonist apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg SC) and by co-administration of a D1-like agonist plus a D2-like agonist [SKF 38393 (7.5 mg/kg s.c.) plus quinpirole (0.25 mg/kg s.c.), SKF 81297 (0.2 mg/kg s.c.) plus quinpirole (0.1 mg/kg s.c), and SKF 77434 (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) plus RU 24213 (0.3 mg/kg s.c.)]. This ECS-induced enhancement of dopamine-mediated behaviour was observed for up to 3 weeks after cessation of ECS treatment. In addition, ECS also enhanced the locomotor response to intra-accumbens SKF 38393 plus quinpirole (0.4 and 1.0 microgram/side, respectively). These results provide evidence that the enhancement of dopamine function by repeated ECS requires concomitant stimulation of both D1-like and D2-like receptors, and that this effect is long-lasting.

Animals↗

Pentazocine-like discriminative stimulus effects of morphine are blocked by the dopamine D-1 antagonist SCH23390, but not by the dopamine D-2 antagonist sulpiride.

The effects of selective dopamine antagonists on the pentazocine-like discriminative stimulus effects of morphine were investigated in the rat trained to discriminate 3.0 mg/kg of pentazocine from vehicle. Morphine (3.0 mg/kg), a mu-selective agonist, produced stimulus effects in common with pentazocine (3.0 mg/kg), indicating that the stimulus effects are mediated through mu opioid receptors. The pentazocine-like stimulus effects of morphine (3.0 mg/kg) were clearly inhibited by the dopamine D-1 antagonist SCH23390 (0.03-0.56 mg/kg) but not by the dopamine D-2 antagonist sulpiride (20.0-80.0 mg/kg). The results suggest that the pentazocine-like discriminative stimulus effects of morphine are mediated via dopamine D-1 receptors.

Animals↗

Effect of the dopamine D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 on rotational behaviour induced by apomorphine and pergolide in 6-hydroxy-dopamine denervated rats.

The experiments concerned the effects of the D-1 dopamine antagonist SCH 23390 on the rotational behaviour induced by apomorphine and pergolide in 6-hydroxy-dopamine denervated rats. SCH 23390 dose dependently inhibited the rotational behaviour induced by apomorphine. A significant inhibitory effect was obtained after 0.05 mg/kg s.c. of SCH 23390, which involved a change of the typical two-peak pattern of rotation induced by apomorphine. While the first peak of rotation was not significantly modified, the last peak of rotation induced by apomorphine was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. No significant inhibition of the total rotation induced by pergolide was observed after SCH 23390 pretreatment. SCH 23390 seemed to enhance the duration of the rotation induced by pergolide, resulting in an increase in the total number of turns. However, the intensity of the maximal peak of rotation induced by pergolide was significantly inhibited after 5.0 mg/kg s.c. of SCH 23390. Comparison of the potency with which SCH 23390 inhibited the apomorphine- and pergolide-induced maximal peaks of rotation reveals that SCH 23390 was approximately 100 times more potent in inhibiting the apomorphine than the pergolide response. The results, compared with those in our previous report, show that the D-2 dopamine antagonist sulpiride was 1000 times more potent in inhibiting the pergolide than the apomorphine rotation. The present results support the hypothesis that apomorphine and pergolide induce rotation in 6-hydroxy-dopamine denervated rats by differential actions on D-1 and D-2 receptor sites.

Animals↗

The enantiomers of the D-2 dopamine receptor agonist N-0437 discriminate between pre- and postsynaptic dopamine receptors.

The (+) and (-) enantiomers of the substituted 2-aminotetralin, N-0437 were evaluated in vivo for their dopaminergic activity, using biochemical as well as behavioural models. In presynaptic models, i.e. antagonism of gamma-butyrolactone-induced dihydroxyphenylalanine elevations and the induction of hypomotility, both enantiomers exhibited a similar high degree of potency. Following postsynaptic stimulation, (-)N-0437 was able to induce stereotypy in rats in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover this compound was able to produce rotation in 6-hydroxy-dopamine-lesioned rats. In contrast, at the doses tested (i.e. 1 and 10 mumol/kg, i.p.), (+)N-0437 displayed virtually no activity at all in either of these postsynaptic models. From in vitro evoked release studies of [3H]acetylcholine it became clear that (-)N-0437 is a postsynaptic dopamine agonist, while (+)N-0437 is a weak antagonist at these receptors. Taken together, the results indicate that (-)N-0437 is very selective for the stimulation of postsynaptic dopamine receptors, while (+)N-0437 stimulates presynaptic dopamine receptors and blocks postsynaptic receptors. These properties make (+)- and (-)N-0437 very promising candidates for psychotherapeutic use.

Acetylcholine↗

Dopamine receptor occupancy in vivo: behavioral correlates using NNC-112, NNC-687 and NNC-756, new selective dopamine D1 receptor antagonists.

The ability of dopamine D2, mixed D1/D2 and selective D1 receptor antagonists, including NNC-112, NNC-687, NNC-756, to inhibit the in vivo binding of [3H]SCH 23390 or [3H]raclopride to dopamine receptors was studied in mice and rats. Furthermore, the dopamine-antagonistic effects of these drugs were also studied in various behavioral models. Significant levels of in vivo receptor blockade were required for antagonism of typical dopamine agonist-mediated behaviors. However, fewer D1 than D2 receptors had to be blocked to produce similar antagonistic effects. Thus, there may be a greater receptor reserve for D2 receptors than for D1 receptors.

Amphetamine↗

Potency and efficacy of dopamine agonists in mouse strains differing in dopamine cell and receptor number.

The potency and efficacy of the selective dopamine D2 receptor agonist quinpirole, the mixed D1/D2 agonist apomorphine, and the selective D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393 in producing hypothermia and changes in locomotor activity were evaluated in four strains of mice: CBA/J, C57BL/6J, ICR Swiss and CF1. CBA/J mice previously have been shown to be deficient in dopamine cell and receptor number relative to other strains such as C57BL/6J mice, whereas ICR Swiss and CF1 are commonly used strains of mice. Quinpirole (0.125 to 1.0 mg/kg) was equiefficacious and equipotent in producing hypothermia in all 4 strains. Apomorphine (0.125 to 16 mg/kg) was equiefficacious in producing hypothermia in all 4 strains, but was approximately four-fold less potent in CBA/J mice than in the other strains. SKF 38393 had little effect on body temperature in any of the 4 strains. Basal motor activity was lowest in CBA/J mice, and tended to be highest in ICR Swiss mice. Quinpirole (0.125 to 32 mg/kg) had no effect on motor activity in CBA/J mice, but decreased motor activity in the other 3 strains. Apomorphine (1 to 16 mg/kg) produced modest increases in motor activity in all 4 strains. The magnitude of the changes produced by apomorphine was comparable in all strains when expressed as change from mean control values. SKF 38393 (8 to 64 mg/kg) also increased motor activity in all 4 strains, with comparable increases when expressed as change from mean control values. The present results are consistent with the interpretation that inherited deficiencies in dopamine cell and receptor number in CBA/J mice produce functional decrements in D2, but not D1, dopamine receptor function.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

Species differences in functions of dopamine transporter: paucity of MPP+ uptake and cocaine binding in bovine dopamine transporter.

Expression of cloned cDNA for human, rat and bovine dopamine transporter (DAT) in COS cells allows the comparison of the functional differences among the respective dopamine transporters. Human DAT showed the highest activities for dopamine uptake, MPP+ uptake and cocaine binding, indicating that humans are more vulnerable to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) toxicity and cocaine addiction. However, bovine DAT showed poor MPP+ uptake and cocaine binding, even though its dopamine uptake ability was quite avid. Here, we conclude that the paucity of MPP+ uptake and cocaine binding is a unique characteristic in bovine DAT.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium↗

Expression of the D3 dopamine receptor in peptidergic neurons of the nucleus accumbens: comparison with the D1 and D2 dopamine receptors.

The D3 dopamine receptor, belonging to the D2-like receptor subfamily, displays both specific pharmacology and a unique pattern of expression, especially compared to the D1 and D2 receptors. A rat D3 complementary RNA probe labelled with [35S]UTP was used to map the neurons expressing the D3 receptor gene in the rat brain. In particular, we identified the phenotype of the neurons containing D3 messenger. RNA in the nucleus accumbens, with respect to the striatal segregated populations of enkephalin and substance P neurons, by using strategies of double in situ hybridization. In addition, comparison with D1 and D2 receptor gene expression was performed to study the potential co-localization of several dopamine receptors within the same neurons in the ventral striatum. The highest level of D3 messenger RNA was detected in the islands of Calleja and the nucleus accumbens. Other areas such as the caudate-putamen, some hypothalamic, thalamic and cortical areas and lobule 10 of the cerebellum also contained low but significant levels of D3 messenger RNA. Our results demonstrate that the D3 receptor is co-expressed either with D1 or with D2 receptor, both in the core and shell regions, in a subpopulation of substance P and enkephalin neurons, respectively. They also suggest that a significant part of the accumbal neurons only express either D1 or D2, without co-expression with the D3 receptor. These data imply that dopamine in the nucleus accumbens may act on each population of efferent neurons via the co-expression of two distinct dopamine receptors (D1+D3 or D2+D3), and that synergistic D1-like/D2-like effects may occur at the level of a single neuron, through the co-expression of D1 and D3 receptors in a significant proportion of substance P neurons (16% or 26% in the core and shell regions, respectively.

Animals↗

Dopamine-glutamate interactions in the striatum: behaviourally relevant modification of excitotoxicity by dopamine receptor-mediated mechanisms.

The two most important afferent projections to the striatum contain glutamate and dopamine, respectively. Excitotoxic damage resulting from excessive stimulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptor has been implicated in pathophysiology of ischaemic stroke, hypoglycaemic brain damage and Huntington's disease. We studied the ability of the dopamine system to modify the anatomical, neurochemical and behavioural consequences of glutamatergic toxicity in the striatum. In a first set of experiments, the specific N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonist quinolinate was injected unilaterally into the striatum of rats pretreated with one of (i) intraperitoneal (i.p.) saline (controls); (ii) i.p. haloperidol, a D2 dopamine receptor agonist; or (iii) 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the ipsilateral nigrostriatal tract. Quinolinate-induced striatal damage, as assessed by morphometric and neurochemical criteria, was significantly attenuated in the animals with 6-hydroxydopamine lesions and in those pretreated with haloperidol, compared with saline-pretreated controls. There were no significant differences between the 6-OHDA and haloperidol groups. In a second set of experiments, animals received (i) bilateral intrastriatal quinolinate plus perioperative i.p. saline; (ii) bilateral intrastriatal quinolinate plus i.p. haloperidol; or (iii) bilateral intrastriatal saline. Again, the quinolinate-lesioned animals treated with perioperative haloperidol had significantly less striatal damage than the bilateral quinolinate rats. Behavioural assessment in the Morris Water Maze showed the bilateral quinolinate+haloperidol group to be significantly less impaired on a spatial acquisition task than the bilateral quinolinate animals. Measures of spontaneous daytime motor activity showed significant differences in average speed and rest time between the bilateral quinolinate+haloperidol rats and the bilateral quinolinate group. The performance of the bilateral quinolinate+haloperidol group was not significantly different from that of controls on any of the behavioural tasks. These results indicate an important role for D2 dopamine receptor-mediated mechanisms in striatal excitotoxicity. Since the excitotoxic process involves the same fundamental signalling mechanism that is involved in normal glutamatergic transmission, these findings imply an ability of D2 receptor blockade to modify glutamate signalling in the striatum. These results may have implications for treatment strategies in ischaemic stroke, hypoglycaemic brain damage and schizophrenia.

Analysis of Variance↗

Dopamine D3 receptors are not involved in the induction of c-fos mRNA by neuroleptic drugs: comparison of the dopamine D3 receptor antagonist GR103691 with typical and atypical neuroleptics.

The effect of acute and chronic administration of dopamine receptor antagonists on the expression of mRNA encoding the cellular immediate-early gene c-fos was investigated in rat brain by in situ hybridization using 35S-labelled oligonucleotide probes. The selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist GR103691 had no effect on the level of c-fos mRNA after acute or chronic treatment. Acute treatment with haloperidol increased the level of c-fos mRNA in the caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens shell and core, olfactory tubercle and parietal cortex. After chronic treatment with haloperidol increases in the level of c-fos mRNA in the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens core were no longer observed. The increase in the level of c-fos mRNA in the nucleus accumbens shell was attenuated but still significantly elevated above the level measured in vehicle-treated animals. In the olfactory tubercle, parietal cortex, frontal cortex and cingulate cortex the level of c-fos mRNA was decreased after chronic haloperidol treatment. Acute sulpiride treatment reduced the level of c-fos mRNA in the olfactory tubercle, parietal cortex and cingulate cortex. After chronic treatment with sulpiride the level of c-fos mRNA was reduced in the dorsal caudate-putamen only. Acute clozapine treatment increased the level of c-fos mRNA in the nucleus accumbens shell and islands of Calleja. After chronic treatment with clozapine the level of c-fos mRNA remained elevated in the islands of Calleja but not in the nucleus accumbens shell. These results indicate that acute and chronic blockade of dopamine D3 receptors does not cause induction of c-fos transcription in limbic, striatal or cortical regions of rat brain. This study also demonstrated that acute blockade of dopamine receptors with haloperidol, sulpiride and clozapine induced different regionally specific patterns of c-fos expression which were altered after chronic blockade.

Animals↗

The variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism of the dopamine transporter gene is not associated with significant change in dopamine transporter phenotype in humans.

A 40 base polymorphism of a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) has been described in the 3' untranslated region of the gene (SLC6A3) coding for the dopamine transporter (DAT). Despite being located in the untranslated region of the gene, this polymorphism has been associated with clinical phenotypes associated with dysregulation of dopamine transmission, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cocaine-induced paranoia. To examine the neurochemical phenotype associated with this polymorphism, we compared amphetamine-induced dopamine release (measured as displacement of the radiotracer [123I]IBZM) and DAT expression (measured with [123I]beta-CIT) in the striatum with Single Photon Computerized Emission Tomography (SPECT). Our sample included 59 subjects, 31 healthy controls and 29 patients with schizophrenia. No significant association was found between VNTR polymorphism and amphetamine-induced dopamine release or DAT density in the total sample, nor when each diagnostic group was considered separately. Thus, we did not replicate the findings of two previous studies, which had suggested that the 9 repeat allele was associated with either an increased or decreased DAT expression, albeit in different patient populations.

Adult↗

Synthesis, structure, dopamine transporter affinity, and dopamine uptake inhibition of 6-alkyl-3-benzyl-2-[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]tropane derivatives.

A series of 6-alkyl-3 beta-benzyl-2-[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]tropane analogues were synthesized and evaluated as cocaine binding site ligands at the dopamine transporter (DAT). The in vitro affinity (Ki) for the DAT of the 6-alkyl-3 beta-benzyl-2-[(methoxycarbonyl) methyl]tropane analogues was determined by inhibition of [3H]WIN 35,428 in rat caudate putamen tissue. The inhibition of dopamine uptake (IC50) was also measured for selected compounds which demonstrated moderate affinity for the dopamine transporter. The unsubstituted enantiopure analogues (-)-19a (Ki = 33 nM) and surprisingly (+)-20a (Ki = 60 nM) were found to be almost equipotent with the high-affinity binding components of cocaine and WIN 35,065-2 and exhibited slightly more potent dopamine uptake inhibition than both cocaine and WIN 35,065-2. In general, substitution at the 6-position of racemic 19a and 20a with alkyl groups was found to result in decreased activity relative to increased chain length of the substituent. The 3 beta-benzyl-2 beta-[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]-6 beta-methyltropane (21b; Ki = 57 nM) was the only 6-alkyl derivative to exhibit moderately potent activity. The 6 beta-isomer 21b was 4-fold more potent than the 6 alpha-isomer 19b (Ki = 211 nM) and was nearly equipotent with (-)-19a and (+)-20a as well as with cocaine and WIN 35,065-2. The results of this study further demonstrate the steric constraints associated with the C(6)-C(7) methylene bridge of the tropane ring system for molecular recognition of cocaine analogues at the cocaine binding site(s) on the DAT.

Animals↗

Effects of dopamine D1 and dopamine D2 antagonists on the free feeding and drinking patterns of rats.

In male rats with food and water freely available, the specific dopamine D2 antagonist YM-09151-2 had little effect on total food or water intake across a 24-hr period. However, it produced a substantial dose-related decrease in feeding rate during meals and an enhancement of both meal size and duration. The equivalent parameters for water intake were affected to a much lesser extent. A second dopamine D2 antagonist, remoxipride, had similar effects on feeding patterns and, in addition, raised food intake during the 2 hr after drug administration. A third dopamine D2 antagonist, raclopride, produced a short-lived rise in food intake and a slowing of feeding rate with a nonsignificant increase in meal size at intermediate doses. Higher doses increased the latency to feed and drink. The specific D1 antagonist SCH 23390 had small effects on both total food intake and feeding patterns. Water intake was substantially reduced in the first 2-4 hr after drug administration by an increased latency to drink. The results are interpreted, first of all, in terms of two separate effects of dopamine D2 receptors on feeding behavior: the first mediating positive feedback processes important at meal initiation and the second mediating the preabsorptive effects of food on meal termination. D1 receptors, in contrast, are of greater importance in controlling water intake.

Animals↗