We have previously reported that dopamine-1 receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C is diminished in renal cortical slices of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats. To determine the potential consequences of this phenomenon, we performed the present studies in which renal proximal tubule suspensions obtained from spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats of 10-12 weeks of age wer...

Dopamine modulates cognitive functions through regulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Thus, dopamine dysfunction in depression may be particularly relevant for the cognitive symptoms. The norepinephrine transporter inhibitor reboxetine facilitates memory processing in both healthy volunteers and in depressed patients and increases dopa...

Aripiprazole is the first next-generation atypical antipsychotic with a mechanism of action that differs from currently marketed typical and atypical antipsychotics. Aripiprazole displays properties of an agonist and antagonist in animal models of dopaminergic hypoactivity and hyperactivity, respectively. This study examined the interactions of aripiprazole with a single population of human D2 ...

Motor stereotypy is a key symptom of various disorders such as Tourette's syndrome and punding. Administration of nicotine or cholinesterase inhibitors is effective in treating some of these symptoms. However, the role of cholinergic transmission in motor stereotypy remains unknown. During strong cocaine-induced motor stereotypy, we showed earlier that increased dopamine release results in decr...

Ghrelin, an orexigenic peptide, regulates energy balance specifically via hypothalamic circuits. Growing evidence suggest that ghrelin increases the incentive value of motivated behaviours via activation of the cholinergic-dopaminergic reward link. It encompasses the cholinergic afferent projection from the laterodorsal tegmental area (LDTg) to the dopaminergic cells of the ventral tegmental ar...

Dopamine D₃ receptors are densely expressed in mesolimbic projection areas, and selective antagonists enhance cognition, consistent with their potential therapeutic use in the treatment of schizophrenia. This study examines the effect of dopamine D₃ vs. D₂ receptor antagonists on the cognitive impairment and hyperactivity produced by social isolation of rat pups, in a neurodevelopmental model o...

Sexual chemosignals detected by vomeronasal and olfactory systems mediate intersexual attraction in rodents, and act as a natural reinforcer to them. The mesolimbic pathway processes natural rewards, and the nucleus accumbens receives olfactory information via glutamatergic projections from the amygdala. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the mesolimbic pathway in...

Dopaminergic axons in the prefrontal cortex synapse with interneurons as well as pyramidal cells. Electrophysiological data suggest that dopamine depolarizes certain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing interneurons in the cortex. We investigated the dopaminergic regulation of extracellular GABA levels in the prefrontal cortex using in vivo microdialysis. Systemic administration of the mix...

Previous studies in vivo have shown that salsolinol, the condensation product of acetaldehyde and dopamine, has properties that may contribute to alcohol abuse. Although opioid receptors, especially the μ-opioid receptors (MORs), may be involved, the cellular mechanisms mediating the effects of salsolinol have not been fully explored. In the current study, we used whole-cell patch-clamp recordi...

Nicotine, the major addictive substance in tobacco, increases the activity of the central amygdala (CeA). Amygdala is directly implicated in anxiety modulation and sends projections to the vicinity of the midbrain dopamine neurons, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA) which is a key area that controls nicotine dependence processes. In this study, the role of dopamine D(1) and D(2)/(3) rec...