In the striatum many neurotransmitters including GABA, glutamate, acetylcholine, dopamine, nitric oxide and adenosine interact to regulate synaptic transmission. Dopamine release in the striatum is regulated by a number of pre- and postsynaptic receptors including adenosine. We have recently shown using isolated rat striatal slices, and the technique of fast cyclic voltammetry, that adenosine A...

Increased responsiveness to stress plays an important role in the manifestation of schizophrenia symptoms. Evidence indicates that the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and dopamine neurotransmission in the PFC in particular, is involved in the modulation of stress responsiveness. Decreased dopaminergic activity and loss of dopamine fibres have been reported in PFC in schizophrenia patients. Consequentl...

The effect of unilateral intrapallidal cannabinoid receptor stimulation on rotational behavior in rats was explored. The potent cannabinoid agonist CP55,940 (5 microg/0.5 microl) induced ipsilateral turning when microinjected unilaterally into the globus pallidus. The D2 dopamine agonist quinpirole reversed this ipsilateral rotation but failed to affect motor behavior on its own. Finally, the D...

BACKGROUND The trafficking of mitochondria within neurons is a highly regulated process. In an earlier study, we found that serotonin (5-HT), acting through the 5-HT1A receptor subtype, promotes axonal transport of mitochondria in cultured hippocampal neurons by increasing Akt activity, and consequently decreasing glycogen synthase kinase (GSK3beta) activity. This finding suggests a critical ro...

Dopamine D1 ligands have been classified and ordered according to efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo studies. In the present experiments, dopamine D1 ligands reported to differ in in vitro efficacy were evaluated for efficacy-related effects on eye blinking in squirrel monkeys. Additional comparisons were made with the effects of D2 receptor agonists and indirect dopamine agonists. The resul...

A series of experiments examined the ability of dopamine D3/D2 receptor agonists [(+)-(4aR,10bR)-3,4,4a,10b-tetrahydro-4-propyl-2H,5H-[1]b enzopyrano-[4,3-b]-1,4-oxazin-9-ol hydrochloride (PD 128,907), (+/-)-7-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin hydrobromide (7-OH-DPAT), quinpirole and bromocriptine] to produce a variety of dopaminergically mediated behaviors. The effects of these drugs with selectiv...

The patient in this case report had two severe medical conditions that require oppositional treatment: prolactinoma and psychosis. A prolactinoma is a benign tumour of the pituitary gland that produces prolactin. Dopamine agonist medication is the first-line treatment in patients with prolactinoma. The psychotic symptoms started after a dosage increase of a dopamine D2-receptor agonist. Several...