RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Further Characterization of Quinpirole-Elicited Yawning As a Model of Dopamine D3 Receptor Activation in Male and Female Monkeys JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP jpet.114.214833 DO 10.1124/jpet.114.214833 A1 Susan E Martelle A1 Susan H Nader A1 Paul W Czoty A1 William S John A1 Angela N Duke A1 Pradeep K Garg A1 Sudha Garg A1 Amy H Newman A1 Michael A Nader YR 2014 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/early/2014/05/29/jpet.114.214833.abstract AB The dopamine (DA) D3 receptor (DRD3) has been associated with impulsivity, pathological gambling and drug addiction making it a potential target for pharmacotherapy development. Positron emission tomography (PET) studies using the DRD3-preferring radioligand [11C]-(+)-propyl-hexahydro-naphtho-oxazin ([11C]PHNO) have shown higher binding potentials in drug abusers compared to control subjects. Preclinical studies have examined DRD3 receptor activation using the DA agonist quinpirole and the unconditioned behavior of yawning. However, the relationship between quinpirole-elicited yawning and DRD3 receptor availability has not been determined. In Experiment 1, 10 drug-naive male rhesus monkeys were scanned with [11C]PHNO and the ability of quinpirole (0.01-0.3 mg/kg, i.m.) to elicit yawning was examined. Significant relationships between DRD3 receptor availability and quinpirole-induced yawns were noted in several brain regions. Experiment 2 replicated earlier findings that a history of cocaine self-administration did not affect quinpirole-induced yawning and extended this to examine monkeys with a history of methamphetamine (MA) self-administration and found that monkeys with experience self-administering MA showed greater potency and significantly higher quinpirole-elicited yawning compared to controls. Finally, quinpirole-elicited yawning was studied in drug-naive female monkeys and compared to drug-naive male. Sex differences were noted, with quinpirole being more potent and significantly eliciting more yawns in males compared to females. Taken together these findings support the use of quinpirole-elicited yawning as a behavioral tool for examining DRD3 activation in monkeys and that both drug history and sex may influence individual sensitivity to the behavioral effects of DRD3 compounds.