Medial prefrontal cortical D2 and striatolimbic D4 dopamine receptors: common targets for typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1998 May;22(4):693-707. doi: 10.1016/s0278-5846(98)00033-5.

Abstract

1. In vitro receptor autoradiography was used to examine the long-term effects of a typical (fluphenazine), atypical (clozapine), or potential atypical antipsychotic (S[+]-N-n-propylnorapomorphine; [+]-NPA) on different dopamine (DA) receptor subtypes. 2. D1-Like and D3 receptor levels were not changed with any treatment in any brain region examined. 3. D2 Receptors in caudate-putamen (CPu), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and olfactory tubercle (OT) were significantly increased by long-term treatment with fluphenazine, but not with clozapine or S[+]-NPA. 4. D2 Receptor levels in medial prefrontal cortex (MPC), but not dorsolateral frontal cortex (DFC), were elevated after repeated daily administration of fluphenazine, clozapine, and S[+]-NPA. 5. D4-Like receptors, assayed under D4-selective conditions, were increased by fluphenazine, clozapine and S(+)-NPA in both NAc and CPu, but by none of these treatments in OT, DFC or MPC. 6. These results support a common role for medial prefrontal cortical D2 and striatolimbic D4 receptors in mediating the clinical actions of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amygdala / drug effects*
  • Amygdala / physiology
  • Animals
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Autoradiography
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Prefrontal Cortex / drug effects*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Dopamine / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Dopamine / physiology
  • Visual Cortex / drug effects*
  • Visual Cortex / physiology

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Receptors, Dopamine