D3 dopamine receptors do not regulate neurogenesis in the subventricular zone of adult mice.

Testing the effects of drugs that stimulate endogenous neurogenesis in different species is important for the development of neural repair strategies in humans. We have previously shown in adult rats that a 14-day intracerebroventricular infusion of the D3 preferential agonist 7-hydroxydipropyl-amino-tetraline (7-OH-DPAT) increases BrdU labeling of neural precursors in the subventricular zone of the anterior lateral ventricle (SVZ). Here, we show that such a treatment failed to affect neurogenesis in C57Bl/6 and FVB mice, even at a high dose or when infused into the neostriatum. We confirmed that such a treatment was effective in adult rats. Moreover, D3 receptor inhibition or genetic knockout failed to affect the neurogenesis in mice. These results raise the possibilities that neurogenesis is not regulated by D3 receptors in all species and, therefore, that D3 agonists like pramipexole may not be useful to harness endogenous neurogenesis in cell replacement strategies for Parkinson's disease.