Definition Dopamine (DA) is a neuromodulator released by midbrain neurons with widespread projections throughout the brain. Dopaminergic modulation has diverse effects on cellular, motor and cognitive functions, including reinforcement learning, working memory and attention. Dysregulation of dopamine also plays a central role in the breakdown of these functions in disorders such as Parkinson's ...

D1 and D2 dopamine receptors are structurally homologous G protein-coupled receptors that serve distinct physiological functions both in neurons and nonneural cell types. We have observed that these receptors are selectively endocytosed in HEK293 cells by distinct dynamin-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Although these endocytic mechanisms operate with similarly rapid kinetics, they diffe...

4-(Dimethylamino)-N-(4-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)butyl)benzamide (WC-10), a N-phenyl piperazine analog, displays high affinity and moderate selectivity for dopamine D3 receptors versus dopamine D2 receptors (Chu et al. [2005] Bioorg Med Chem 13:77–87). In this study, WC-10 was radiolabeled with tritium (specific activity 5 80 Ci/mmol), and quantitative autoradiography studies were cond...

It has been suggested that L-DOPA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, and dementia and is an additional pathogenetic factor involved in the progression of Parkinson's disease. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably cotransfected with adenosine A(2A) and dopamine D2 receptors, homocysteine selectively decreased the ability of D2 receptor stimulation ...

Two different 19-mer antisense oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to the initial coding regions of dopamine D2 or D3 receptor mRNA were infused unilaterally into the substantia nigra of rats for 3-6 d to suppress synthesis of D2 and/or D3 receptors on substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons, thereby producing specific reductions of D2 and/or D3 receptors. Autoradiographic receptor binding reveal...

Buspirone, a partial agonist of 5-hydroxytryptamine autoreceptors, selectively blocks presynaptic nigrostriatal D2 dopamine (DA) autoreceptors. At doses which antagonised action of apomorphine in biochemical presynaptic nigrostriatal D2 DA autoreceptor test systems buspirone neither induced catalepsy nor antagonised apomorphine-induced turning behaviour in rats indicating that at these doses bu...

Frog monocular optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) displays a directional asymmetry, reacting only to stimulations in the temporal-nasal (T-N) direction. The nasal-temporal (N-T) component is almost absent. The systemic or intrapretectal injection of Piribedil, a D2 dopamine agonist, provokes the appearance of a N-T component suppressing the monocular OKN asymmetry. Conversely, dopamine or haloperidol ...

202 Introduction Dopamine systems have long been implicated in schizophrenia and its treatment. There is, however, little evidence for a primary abnormality of dopaminergic innervation in the disease, although subtle neuronal deficits, for which there is substantial evidence in the brain in schizophrenia, could conceivably affect dopaminergic neurotransmission in an indirect manner. However, do...

In the light of recent findings, DA-D3 dopamine receptors with an unclear physiological function are present in the cerebellar cortex. Our preliminary results seem to indicate that bilateral injection of 7-OH-DPAT, a DA-D2/D3 receptor agonist (1 and 10 microg/0.5 microl), to lobule 9/10 of rat cerebellar cortex reduces spontaneous locomotor activity (hypolocomotor effects) and induces balance a...