The ergolene derivative MPME induces in the rat a behavioural syndrome associated with activation of dopamine D-1 receptors belonging to the dotted type of forebrain dopamine nerve terminals

Abstract

The ergolene derivative MPME (PTR 17402; (5R,8R)-8-(4-p-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazynylmethyl-6-methylergolene)), a dopamine (DA) receptor agonist acting mainly at DA D-1 receptors linked to dotted types of forebrain DA nerve terminals, induces a characteristic behavioural syndrome consisting of increased locomotion, head-bobbing and sniffing activity without oral stereotypies or increased rearing. Haloperidol and cis-flupenthixol, nonselective DA receptor antagonists, but not selective D-2 receptor antagonists such as remoxipride and sulpiride, could significantly counteract the locomotion and head-bobbing behaviour induced by MPME. In contrast, the sniffing behaviour induced by MPME was only marginally affected by haloperidol and cis-flupenthixol pretreatment. These results suggest that activation of D-1 receptors in the forebrain mainly linked to the dotted types of DA nerve terminals in the striatum, and in the limbic forebrain, can result in behavioural effects which differ from those caused by stimulation of D-2 receptors located mainly within the diffuse types of DA nerve terminal systems.