Biphasic effects of dopamine D-2 receptor agonists on sleep and wakefulness in the rat.

The effects of the dopamine (DA) receptor agonists apomorphine, bromocriptine and pergolide were compared with those produced by a DA receptor antagonist, haloperidol, in rats implanted with electrodes for chronic sleep recordings. Apomorphine (0.025-2.0 mg/kg) and bromocriptine (0.25-6.0 mg/kg) induced biphasic effects such that low doses decreased wakefulness (W) and increased slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep (REMS), while large doses induced opposite effects. The effects of pergolide (0.05-0.5 mg/kg) on W and SWS were also biphasic, while REMS was suppressed over the range of dosages given. At 0.040 mg/kg, haloperidol increased W, while at 0.160 mg/kg it produced the opposite effect. Pretreatment with haloperidol (0.020 mg/kg) in a dose which preferentially acts at presynaptic sites reversed the effects of low doses of apomorphine, bromocriptine or pergolide on sleep and W. However, the compound differed substantially in its ability to block agonist effects. The increase in sleep after low doses of apomorphine, bromocriptine or pergolide could be related to activation of presynaptic D-2 receptors located on DA axons of mesolimbic and mesocortical systems. In addition, inhibition of norepinephrine and acetylcholine neurons having inhibitory D-2 receptors could contribute to the increase of sleep after small doses of the DA agonists.