Dopamine D2(High) receptors on intact cells.

In humans, behavioral dopamine supersensitivity occurs in schizophrenia and in Parkinson's disease. In animals, behavioral dopamine supersensitivity is consistently associated with increased dopamine D2(High) receptors in homogenized striata in vitro. Because D2(High) receptors have not yet been detected in intact cells, we used [(3)H]domperidone to detect D2(High) sites in intact rat anterior pituitary adenoma culture cells. Although [(3)H]raclopride and [(3)H]spiperone did not detect D2(High) receptors in intact cells or in rat fresh striatal slices, [(3)H]domperidone readily detected D2(High) receptors, warranting an in vivo search for D2(High) variations in human diseases.