Pharmacological evidence for the subclassification of central dopamine receptors in the rat.

1 The relative potencies of dopamine receptor agonists in causing stereotypy in rats when injected into the olfactory tubercles, and contralateral rotation when injected unilaterally into the caudate nucleus of rats with lesions of the nigro-striatal dopamine pathway, were determined. The actions of some agonists in eliciting these responses following peripheral injection, and the relative potencies of dopamine receptor antagonists in inhibiting them were also determined. 2 Dopamine, apomorphine and 2-amino-5,6 and 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (A-5, 6 DTN, A-6, 7 DTN) and N,N dipropyl A-5, 6DTN induced both responses. In contrast, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine HCl (SK & F 38393) whether injected intracerebrally or peripherally, induced contralateral rotation but not stereotypy. 3 Contralateral rotation and stereotypy induced by apomorphine or N,N dipropyl A-5, 6 DTN were inhibited by haloperidol, pimozide and fluphenazine but these drugs failed to inhibit rotation induced by SK & F 38393. Clozapine inhibited rotation induced by SK & F 38393, apomorphine or N,N dipropyl A-5,6 DTN but failed to inhibit stereotypy. Loxapine was more potent in inhibiting stereotypy than rotation,, whereas clothiapine inhibited rotation and stereotypy at similar doses irrespective of the agonist used to elicit the response. 4 Contralateral rotation induced by SK & F 38393 was not inhibited by yohimbine, prazosin, atropine, methysergide, mepyramine or propranolol. 5 The results provide evidence that contralateral rotation induced by dopamine receptor agonists is mediated by two different classes of dopamine receptors and that these receptors differ from those mediating the stereotypy response. 6 The receptors mediating these responses appear classifiable in terms of their sensitivity to the agonist actions of SK & F 38393 or apomorphine respectively. SK & F 38393-sensitive receptors are susceptible to blockade by clozapine but are not blocked by haloperidol, pimozide or fluphenazine. Apomorphine-sensitive receptors are susceptible to blockade by haloperidol, pimozide and fluphenazine but appear divisible into two sub-classes depending on whether or not they are blocked by clozapine and on their sensitivity to blockade by loxapine.