TY - JOUR T1 - Electrophysiological effects of putative autoreceptor-selective dopamine agonists on A10 dopamine neurons. JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 963 LP - 970 VL - 265 IS - 2 AU - J M Ackerman AU - P A Johansen AU - D Clark AU - F J White Y1 - 1993/05/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/265/2/963.abstract N2 - The dopamine (DA) hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes hyperactivity of the mesocorticolimbic DA system, originating within the A10 DA cells of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), as a pathophysiological mechanism. Thus, reduction of activity in this system, including that produced by putative "autoreceptor-selective" DA agonists, may be of clinical utility. The present studies compared the ability of eight D2 DA receptor agonists to inhibit the firing of rat A10 DA neurons after i.v. administration. Both N-n-propyl-N-phenylethyl-p(3-hydorxyphenyl)ethylamine hydrochloride (RU 24213) and 2-amino-6-allyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-thiazolo-[4,5-d]- azepine dihydrochloride (B-HT 920) were potent, high-efficacy agonists which completely inhibited the firing of A10 DA cells. The putative autoreceptor-selective DA agonists 3-(4-(4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridyl-(1)-butyl)-indole hydrochloride (EMD 23,448) and (+)-3-(3-hydroxy-phenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine [(+)-3-PPP] were considerably weaker than RU 24213 and B-HT 920, but also exhibited "full" efficacy (i.e., they completely suppressed cell firing). The putative autoreceptor agonist preclamol [(-)-3-PPP] and its trans-fused congener (-)-HW 165 were weak partial agonists that failed to completely inhibit A10 DA cells. The new putative autoreceptor agonist N-[(8-alpha)-2-chloro-6-methylergoline-8-yl]-2,3]dimethylopropa namide (SDZ 208-911) was also a weak partial agonist that exhibited partial antagonist effects (reversed inhibition produced by the D2 agonist quinpirole), whereas its structural analog N-[(8-alpha)-2-chloro-6-methylergoline-8-yl]-2,2-dimethylopropa namide (SDZ 208-912) was nearly inactive as an agonist, but was an effective antagonist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) ER -