Behavioural motor effects of MK-801 and DNQX parenteral administration in adult cats: dose-response analysis. Modulatory role of dopaminergic D1 and D2 antagonists on MK-801 induced motor behaviours

1. Administration of MK-801 a selective antagonist of the NMDA receptors (50, 100 and 150 micrograms/kg, s.c.) elicited in adult cats ataxia and loss of equilibrium. A dose-response effect was observed. 2. Administration of DNQX, a selective antagonist of the non-NMDA receptors, even with doses 20 times higher than those employed with MK-801, did not produce any behavioural disturbances. 3. Previous injection of SCH 23390, a selective parenteral antagonist of dopamine D1 receptor, reduced significantly the intense ataxic effects of MK-801, while sulpiride only increased the latency of the symptoms. 4. The results are discussed considering the reported interactions between the dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems.     

NMDA-mediated release of glutamate and GABA in the subthalamic nucleus is mediated by dopamine: an in vivo microdialysis study in rats

The present study investigated the effects of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid.H2O (NMDA) on the dopamine, glutamate and GABA release in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) by using in vivo microdialysis in rats. NMDA (100 micromol/L) perfused through the microdialysis probe evoked an increase in extracellular dopamine in the STN of the intact rat of about 170%. This coincided with significant increases in both extracellular glutamate (350%) and GABA (250%). The effect of NMDA perfusion on neurotransmitter release at the level of the STN was completely abolished by co-perfusion of the selective NMDA-receptor antagonist MK-801 (10 micromol/L), whereas subthalamic perfusion of MK-801 alone had no effect on extracellular neurotransmitter concentrations. Furthermore, NMDA induced increases in glutamate were abolished by both SCH23390 (8 micromol/L), a selective D1 antagonist, and remoxipride (4 micromol/L), a selective D2 antagonist. The NMDA induced increase in GABA was abolished by remoxipride but not by SCH23390. Perfusion of the STN with SCH23390 or remoxipride alone had no effect on extracellular neurotransmitter concentrations. The observed effects in intact animals depend on the nigral dopaminergic innervation, as dopamine denervation, by means of 6-hydroxydopamine lesioning of the substantia nigra, clearly abolished the effects of NMDA on neurotransmitter release at the level of the STN. Our work points to a complex interaction between dopamine, glutamate and GABA with a crucial role for dopamine at the level of the STN.     

D2-dopamine receptor and alpha2-adrenoreceptor-mediated analgesic response of quercetin

Quercetin, a bioflavonoid (100-300 mg/kg) produced dose dependent increase in tail-flick latency, the analgesic effect being sensitive to reversal by naloxone (1 mg/kg). Prior treatment with haloperidol (1 mg/kg), D1/D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol, sulpiride (50 mg/kg), a selective D2 receptor antagonist, yohimbine (5 mg/kg), a alpha2-adrenoreceptor antagonist but not by SCH 23390 a, selective D1 receptor antagonist blocked this response. Apomorphine (1 mg/kg) a mixed D1/D2 dopamine receptor agonist, and quinpirole (0.5 mg/kg), a selective D2 receptor agonist also produced antinociception, that was reversed by haloperidol (1 mg/kg), sulpiride (50 mg/kg), but not by yohimbine (5 mg/kg). The antinociceptive action of quercetin (200 mg/kg) was potentiated by D2 agonist quinpirole (0.2 mg/kg). Dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF38393 (10 and 15 mg/kg) failed to alter the antinociceptive effect of quercetin (200 mg/kg). Quercetin (200 mg/kg) reversed reserpine (2 mg/kg-4 hr) induced hyperalgesia, which was reversed by sulpiride but not by yohimbine. Thus, a role of dopamine D2 and alpha2-adrenoreceptors is postulated in the antinociceptive action of quercetin.     

MK801 impairs thermoregulation in the heat

The effects of MK801 (dizocilpine), a glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist, on thermoregulation in the heat were studied in awake rats exposed to 40 degrees C ambient temperature until their body core temperature reached 43 degrees C. Under these conditions, MK801-treated rats exhibited enhanced locomotor activity and a steady rise in body core temperature, which reduced the heat exposure duration required to reach 43 degrees C. Since MK801-treated rats also showed increased striatal dopaminergic metabolism at thermoneutrality, the role of dopamine in the MK801-induced impairment of thermoregulation in the heat was determined using co-treatment with SCH23390, a dopamine D1 receptor antagonist. SCH23390 normalized the locomotor activity in the heat without any effect on the heat exposure duration. These results suggest that the MK801-induced impairment of thermoregulation in the heat is related to neither a dopamine metabolism alteration nor a locomotor activity enhancement.     

Evidence for a dopamine receptor subtype sensitive to combination of D1 with D2 antagonist in measurement of G-protein activity using rat striatal membranes

In rat striatal membranes, various kinds of dopamine receptor agonists stimulated low-Km GTPase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. This stimulation by bromocriptine, pergolide and apomorphine was partially inhibited by sulpiride (SUL), a D2-selective antagonist, markedly inhibited by combination of SUL with SCH 23390 (SCH), a D1-selective antagonist, and not modified by SCH alone. The stimulation by BAM-1110 was resistant to SUL or SCH alone but abolished by combination of SUL with SCH. These findings suggest the presence of another subtype of a dopamine receptor in a functional in vitro bioassay system in rat striata.     

Exposure to Far Infrared Ray Protects Methamphetamine-Induced Behavioral Sensitization in Glutathione Peroxidase-1 Knockout Mice via Attenuating Mitochondrial Burdens and Dopamine D1 Receptor Activation

Evidence indicates that stress conditions might lead to drug dependence. Recently, we have demonstrated that exposure to far infrared ray (FIR) attenuates acute restraint stress via induction of glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) gene. We investigated whether FIR affects methamphetamine (MA)-induced behavioral sensitization and whether FIR-mediated pharmacological activity requires interaction between dopamine receptor and GPx-1 gene. We observed that MA treatment significantly increased GPx-1 expression in the striatum of wild-type (WT) mice. Interestingly, exposure to FIR potentiated MA-induced increase in GPx-1 expression. This phenomenon was also observed in animals receiving MA with dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390. However, dopamine D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride did not affect MA-induced GPx-1 expression. FIR exposure or SCH23390, but not sulpiride, significantly attenuated MA-induced behavioral sensitization. Exposure to FIR significantly attenuated MA-induced dopamine D1 receptor expression, c-Fos induction and oxidative burdens. FIR-mediated antioxidant effects were also more pronounced in mitochondrial- than cytosolic-fraction. In addition, FIR significantly attenuated against MA-induced changes in mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and mitochondrial GPx activities, mitochondrial transmembrane potential, intramitochondrial Ca²⁺ level, mitochondrial complex-I activity, and mitochondrial oxidative burdens. The attenuation by FIR was paralleled that by SCH23390. Effects of FIR or SCH23390 were more sensitive to GPx-1 KO than WT mice, while SCH23390 treatment did not exhibit any additive effects on the protective activity mediated by FIR, indicating that dopamine D1 receptor constitutes a molecular target of FIR. Our result suggests that exposure to FIR ameliorates MA-induced behavioral sensitization via possible interaction between dopamine D1 receptor and GPx-1 gene.     

Effects of isolation-rearing on intracranial self-stimulation reward of the lateral hypothalamus: baseline assessment and drug challenges

There is evidence that isolation rearing produces down-regulation of the dopamine D2 receptor. Therefore, isolation rearing should also modify the effects of D2 antagonists on intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) reward. This study investigated the effect of isolation rearing on ICSS reward, and modulation of that reward by SCH23390, Raclopride and MK-801. Sprague-Dawley rats were reared alone (isolates) or in pairs from day 21 postnatal to day 75 postnatal. At this time, all rats were implanted with monopolar stimulating electrodes in the lateral hypothalamus. The ICSS rate-frequency curve-shift method was used to assess reward and operant motor function at baseline and after administration of SCH-23390 (D1 antagonist: 0.02, 0.06, 0.2 mg/kg), Raclopride (D2 antagonist: 0.01, 0.025, 0.06 mg/kg), and MK-801 (non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist: 0.1, 0.2 mk/kg). Isolation-reared rats displayed similar measures of both basal reward and motor function when compared to socially reared controls. Isolation-reared rats were subsensitive to the reward decreasing effects of Raclopride. Socially reared rats were observed to have more variant baseline reward measures, and could be divided into distinctly different groups with different basal reward function. Isolation-rearing down-regulates D2 function but does not affect basal reward function, but some unknown factor in the social rearing environment did have a substantial effect on basal reward function.     

D2 dopamine receptor involvement in spinal dopamine-produced antinociception.

Experiments were performed on 79 lightly pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Rats displayed a dose-dependent increase in tail-flick latencies following the injection of dopamine (DA) into the lumbar subarachnoid space through an intrathecal tube. Sulpiride, a D2-subtype receptor antagonist, antagonized the DA-induced analgesia (antinociceptive) effect; while SCH-23390, a D1-subtype receptor antagonist, had no effect even in a higher dose. To further investigate whether the well-known spinal serotonergic, noradrenergic and opioidergic receptor systems were involved in DA-induced antinociception, their antagonists, methysergide, phentolamine, and naloxone were tested respectively. The results showed that phentolamine, but not methysergide or naloxone, could block the DA-induced antinociception. The present data provide evidence that DA exerts antinociceptive effects through D2-subtype dopamine receptor(s) at the spinal level, and that spinal alpha-adrenergic receptors may mediate this effect.     

大鼠鞘内注射多巴胺受体激动剂与拮抗剂对痛及针刺镇痛的影响

在大鼠电刺激甩测痛模型上,应用鞘内注射（ｉｔ）多巴胺（ＤＡ）受体选择性激动剂与拮抗剂,分析大鼠脊髓ＤＡ受体亚型Ｄ１和Ｄ２在痛及针刺镇痛（ＡＡ）中的作用。结果显示,在正常清醒大鼠,ｉｔ Ｄ２受体选择性激动剂,Ｙ１７１５５５（ＬＹ）或Ｄ１／Ｄ２受体激动剂阿朴吗啡（ＡＰＯ）有镇痛作用（呈剂量依赖式增加）,并加强ＡＡ,而ｉｔ Ｄ１受体选择性激动剂ＳＫＦ３８３９３（ＳＫＦ）对痛及ＡＡ均无影响;ｉｔ Ｄ１受体     

Stimulatory role of dopamine on fibroblast growth factor-2 expression in rat striatum

We have previously shown that systemic injection of (-)nicotine produces a selective up-regulation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 mRNA levels in rat striatum. Because (-)nicotine can increase striatal release of dopamine and glutamate, in the present study we have investigated the contribution of these neurotransmitters in the modulation of FGF-2 expression. We found that coinjection of dopaminergic D1 (SCH23390) or D2 (haloperidol) receptor antagonists prevents nicotine-induced elevation of FGF-2 expression. However, injection of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 produced a significant increment of FGF-2 mRNA and protein levels in rat striatum similar to the effect produced by (-)nicotine alone. Interestingly this effect of MK-801 could also be prevented by D1 or D2 receptor antagonists, suggesting that an elevation of dopamine levels may be required for the regulation of the trophic molecule. Accordingly we found that the non-selective dopaminergic agonist apomorphine can similarly increase striatal FGF-2 mRNA levels. Despite the observation that both D1 and D2 receptors appear to contribute to the modulation of FGF-2 expression, only a direct activation of D2 receptors, through quinpirole administration, was able to mimic the effect of apomorphine. On the basis of FGF-2 neurotrophic activity, these results suggest that direct or indirect activation of dopaminergic system can be neuroprotective and might reduce cell vulnerability in degenerative disorders.     

多巴胺D1和D2受体拮抗剂对针刺镇痛的增强

在兔K~+透入测痛模型上,应用高选择性的D_1或D_2受体拮抗剂、观察其对针刺镇痛的影响。结果表明,iv.D_2受体拮抗剂氟哌啶醇和氯氮平加强针刺镇痛,且与剂量有关。icv.D_2受体拮抗剂domperidone和舒必利及D_1受体拮抗剂SCH23390,亦能加强针刺镇痛。本文对D_1和D_2受体拮抗剂在针刺镇痛中的作用进行了讨论。     

Amphetamine-Induced Glutamate Efflux in the Rat Ventral Tegmental Area Is Prevented by MK-801, SCH 23390, and Ibotenic Acid Lesions of the Prefrontal Cortex

We showed previously that amphetamine challenge produces a delayed increase in glutamate efflux in the ventral tegmental area of both naive and chronic amphetamine-treated rats. The present study examined the mechanisms underlying this response. The NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) or the D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), given 30 min before acute amphetamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.), prevented amphetamine-induced glutamate efflux. Neither antagonist by itself altered glutamate efflux. Ibotenic acid lesions of the prefrontal cortex similarly prevented amphetamine-induced glutamate efflux, while producing a trend toward decreased basal glutamate levels (82.8% of sham group). Previous work has shown that the doses of NMDA and D1 receptor antagonists used in this study prevent the induction of behavioral sensitization when coadministered repeatedly with amphetamine, and that identical prefrontal cortex lesions performed before repeated amphetamine prevent the induction of ambulatory sensitization. Thus, treatments that prevent acute amphetamine from elevating glutamate efflux in the ventral tegmental area also prevent repeated amphetamine from eliciting behavioral sensitization. These findings suggest that repeated elevation of glutamate levels during a chronic amphetamine regimen may contribute to the cascade of neuroadaptations within the ventral tegmental area that enables the induction of sensitization.     

Two kinds of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatases, MKP-1 and MKP-3, are differentially activated by acute and chronic methamphetamine treatment in the rat brain

Two functionally different MAP kinase phosphatases (MKPs) were investigated to clarify their roles in behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine (METH). MKP-1 mRNA levels increased substantially by about 60-300% in a range of brain regions, including several cortices, the striatum and thalamus 0.5-1 h after acute METH administration. After chronic METH administration its increase was less pronounced, but a more than 50% increase was still seen in the frontal cortex. MKP-1 protein levels also increased 3 h after acute or chronic METH administration. MKP-3 mRNA levels increased by about 30-50% in several cortices, the striatum and hippocampus 1 h after acute METH administration, but only in the hippocampus CA1 after chronic METH administration. Pre-treatment with the D(1) dopamine receptor antagonist, SCH23390, attenuated the METH-induced increase of MKP-1 and MKP-3 mRNA in every brain region, while pre-treatment with the NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, attenuated it in some regions. These findings suggest that in METH-induced sensitization, MKP-1 and MKP-3 play important roles in the neural plastic modification in widespread brain regions in the earlier induction process, but in the later maintenance process, they do so only in restricted brain regions such as MKP-1 in the frontal cortices and MKP-3 in the hippocampus.     

海马多巴胺D1受体激活抑制谷氨酸介导的大鼠慢性应激性抑郁

本文旨在探讨在慢性应激性抑郁发生过程中多巴胺D1受体对谷氨酸及其离子型受体的影响。实验通过建立慢性不可预见性温和应激(chronic unpredictable mild stress,CUMS)抑郁模型,结合海马微量注射多巴胺D1受体激动剂SKF38393、非竞争性N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(N-methyl-D-aspartic acid,NMDA)受体拮抗剂MK-801和α-氨基羟甲基异恶唑丙酸(α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid,AMPA)受体的拮抗剂NBQX,运用糖水偏爱测试、旷场实验和悬尾实验等方法检测动物的行为表现,采用高效液相色谱法(high-performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)和Western blot实验来检测海马内谷氨酸含量及其离子型受体关键亚基的表达。结果显示,与对照组相比,CUMS组大鼠表现出明显的抑郁样行为变化,且海马谷氨酸含量升高,其NMDA受体的NR1亚基与AMPA受体的GluR2/3亚基也明显下调;注射SKF38393后可明显改善应激引起的抑郁样行为,且海马谷氨酸含量显...     

Effects of morphine withdrawal on catecholaminergic neurons on heart right ventricle; implication of dopamine receptors.

The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of D1-and D2-dopamine receptors blockade on the changes in the ventricular content of catecholamines in rats withdrawn from morphine. Rats were given morphine by subcutaneous (s.c.) implantation of morphine pellets for 5 days. On the eighth day, morphine withdrawal was induced by s.c. administration of naloxone (1 mg/kg), and rats were killed 30 min later. Pretreatment with SCH 23390 (dopamine D1, D5 receptor antagonist) 15 min prior to naloxone administration suppressed some the behavioural signs of morphine withdrawal, whereas eticlopride (dopamine D2, D3, D4 receptor antagonist) did not. In addition, biochemical analysis indicate that SCH 23390 completely abolished the withdrawal-induced increase in noradrenaline and dopamine turnover in the right ventricle. By contrast, eticlopride did not block the hyperactivity of catecholaminergic neurons in the heart during morphine withdrawal. These data suggest that the hyperactivity of catecholaminergic neurons in the heart during morphine withdrawal is dependent upon D1 dopamine receptor activation. In addition, our results exclude the involvement of D2 dopamine receptors.     

Selective changes of neurotransmitter receptors in middle-aged gerbil brain

Age-related alterations in major neurotransmitter receptors and voltage dependent calcium channels were analyzed by receptor autoradiography in the gerbil brain. [³H]Quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB). [³H]cyclohexyladenosine (CHA), [³H]muscimol, [³H]MK-801, [³H]SCH 23390, [³H]naloxone, and [³H]PN200-110 were used to label muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, adenosine A₁ receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid_A (GABA_A) receptors, (NMDA) receptors, dopamine D₁ receptors, opioid receptors, and voltage dependent calcium channels, respectively. In middle-aged gerbils (16 months old), the hippocampus exhibited a significant elevation in [³H]QNB, [³H]MK-801, [³H]SCH 23390, [³H]naloxone, and [³H]PN200-110 binding, whereas [³H]CHA and [³H]muscimol binding showed a significant reduction in this area, compared with that of young animals (1 month). On the other hand, the cerebellum showed a significant alteration in [³H]QNB, [³H]CHA, and [³H]naloxone binding and the striatum also exhibited a significant alteration in [³H]SCH 23390 and [³H]CHA binding in middle-aged gerbils. The neocortex showed a significant elevation only in [³H]CHA binding in middle-aged animals. The nucleus accumbens and thalamus also showed a significant alteration only in [³H]muscimol binding. However, the hypothalamus and substantia nigra exhibited no significant alteration in these bindings in middle-aged gerbils. These results demonstrate the age-related alterations of various neurotransmitter receptors and voltage dependent calcium channels in most brain regions. Furthermore, they suggest that the hippocampus is most susceptible to aging processes and is altered at an early stage of senescence.     

In vivo CREB phosphorylation mediated by dopamine and NMDA receptor activation in mouse hippocampus and caudate nucleus

The pattern of CREB phosphorylation was investigated in the caudate nucleus and hippocampus 10 min or 3 h after i.p. injection of dopamine or NMDA receptor agonists alone, or in combination with antagonists. Ten minutes after C57BL/6 J mice were injected with either the dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF-38393 hydrobromide or NMDA, immunoreactivity of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) was significantly increased in all parts of the caudate nucleus but not in hippocampal regions. However, 3 h after the injection of SKF-38393, pCREB levels in the caudate nucleus did not differ significantly from the pCREB levels in control animals, whereas pCREB levels were still elevated 3 h after NMDA injection. Except for the D1 receptor antagonist SCH-23390, which induced CREB phosphorylation in the caudate nucleus, dopamine and NMDA receptor antagonists had little effect on pCREB levels by themselves. However, the NMDA receptor antagonist CGS-19755 injected i.p. blocked both the NMDA- and SKF-38393-induced rise of pCREB levels in the caudate nucleus. Similarly, the D1 receptor antagonist SCH-23390 inhibited the effects produced by SKF-38393 or NMDA. Interestingly, the D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride also blocked the SKF-38393-triggered rise of pCREB. The results demonstrated that NMDA and dopamine receptors modulate pCREB levels in the caudate nucleus and suggest mutual permissive roles for both receptors.     

Further characterisation of the dopamine-inhibitory receptor in Helix and evidence for a noradrenaline-preferring receptor

1. The cells in this study responded with a hyperpolarization to the following agents in this order of potency; dopamine greater than noradrenaline phenylephrine = octopamine. 2. 6,7 ADTN had a relative potency of 0.1 compared to dopamine. 5,6 ADTN did not inhibit the cells in this study. 3. The D1 receptor agonists SKF38393 and dihydroxynomifensine mimicked the effect of dopamine on these cells but were over 100 times less active, whereas the D2 selective agonists quinpirole and RU24213 were without effect. 4. Both the D1 antagonist SCH23390 and the D2 antagonist sulpiride antagonised the dopamine response with pA2 values of 6.1 and 6.7, respectively. 5. Five cells that responded to dopamine with a hyperpolarization were depolarized by noradrenaline. The order of potency of compounds at eliciting this depolarization, noradrenaline greater than phenylephrine greater than octopamine indicated that this response may be mediated by a noradrenaline-preferring receptor.     

Behavioral recovery after irreversible inactivation of D-1 and D-2 dopamine receptors

Irreversible inactivation of both D-1 and D-2 dopamine (DA) receptors by N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) resulted in complete loss of stereotypy response to R-(-)-N-propylnorapomorphine (NPA; 0.1-1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) 24 hr later. Stereotyped sniffing recovered much more rapidly than oral behaviors. The D-2 antagonist sulpiride (200 mg/kg) and the putatively nonselective antagonist cis-flupenthixol (2 mg/kg), administered prior to EEDQ, prevented the loss of NPA-induced sniffing but only partially protected against loss of oral behaviors 24 hr later. Complete protection of both behaviors was seen after pretreatment with a combination of sulpiride and the selective D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 (1 mg/kg); pretreatment with the selective D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 alone, however, did not modify the rate of recovery of either behavioral response. The results suggest that either different populations of DA receptors mediate expression of these behaviors or stimulation of a small fraction of the total DA receptor pool may be sufficient to elicit sniffing but not oral responses. Furthermore, maintaining a normal complement of D-2 rather than D-1 receptors appears to be a critical determinant for the elicitation of these behaviors.     

Pharmacological blockade of serotonin 5-HT₇ receptor reverses working memory deficits in rats by normalizing cortical glutamate neurotransmission

The role of 5-HT₇ receptor has been demonstrated in various animal models of mood disorders; however its function in cognition remains largely speculative. This study evaluates the effects of SB-269970, a selective 5-HT₇ antagonist, in a translational model of working memory deficit and investigates whether it modulates cortical glutamate and/or dopamine neurotransmission in rats. The effect of SB-269970 was evaluated in the delayed non-matching to position task alone or in combination with MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, and, in separate experiments, with scopolamine, a non-selective muscarinic antagonist. SB-269970 (10 mg/kg) significantly reversed the deficits induced by MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) but augmented the deficit induced by scopolamine (0.06 mg/kg). The ability of SB-269970 to modulate MK-801-induced glutamate and dopamine extracellular levels was separately evaluated using biosensor technology and microdialysis in the prefrontal cortex of freely moving rats. SB-269970 normalized MK-801 -induced glutamate but not dopamine extracellular levels in the prefrontal cortex. Rat plasma and brain concentrations of MK-801 were not affected by co-administration of SB-269970, arguing for a pharmacodynamic rather than a pharmacokinetic mechanism. These results indicate that 5-HT₇ receptor antagonists might reverse cognitive deficits associated with NMDA receptor hypofunction by selectively normalizing glutamatergic neurotransmission.