DA Agonists Research Articles

Different mechanisms of renal Na-K-ATPase regulation by protein kinases in proximal and distal nephron.

We recently reported a novel intracellular mechanism of Na-K-adenosinetriphosphatase (Na-K-ATPase) regulation in the cortical collecting duct (CCD) by agents that increase cell adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), which involves stimulation of protein kinase A (PKA) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2). We now determined whether this mechanism also operates in other nephron segments. In the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) dopamine, the DA1 agonist fenoldopam, forskolin, or dibutyryl-cAMP inhibited Na-K-ATPase activity, similar to results in CCD. In both segments this effect was blocked by 20-residue inhibitory peptide (IP20), a peptide inhibitor of PKA, but not by staurosporine, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. PKC activators phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, and 1,2-myristate 13-acetate, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol had no effect on Na-K pump activity in either CCD or MTAL. In contrast, all three PKC activators inhibited pump activity in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), an effect reproduced only by dopamine or by parathyroid hormone [PTH-(1-34)]. In PCT the pump inhibition by dopamine or PTH-(1-34) was abolished by staurosporine but not by IP20. The PLA2 inhibitor mepacrine prevented the effect of all agents, and arachidonic acid produced a dose-dependent pump inhibition in each of the three segments studied. We conclude that intracellular mechanisms of Na-K-ATPase regulation differ along the nephron, as they involve activation of PKA in CCD and MTAL and of PKC in PCT. These two pathways probably share a common mechanism in stimulating PLA2, arachidonic acid release, and production of eicosanoids in both the proximal and distal nephron.

Involvement of inhibitory dopamine-2 receptors in resting bradycardia in exercise-conditioned rats

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the underlying cause for the resting bradycardia and lower resting blood pressure demonstrated in conscious rats that performed 12 wk of treadmill exercise conditioning. The influence of inhibitory dopamine (DA2) receptors and alpha 2-adrenoceptors, which are known to mediate bradycardia and hypotension, was assessed in exercise-conditioned (EC) and nonexercised conditioned (NC) rats. To accomplish this, preferential DA2 and alpha 2-agonists and antagonists were administered at rest to conscious rats after they participated in an exercise conditioning program. The results obtained with the DA2 antagonist metoclopramide (15 mg/kg ip) alone suggest that there is physiological activation of cardiovascular DA2 receptors in EC rats but not in NC rats. Furthermore, the results obtained with the DA2 agonist bromocriptine (1.5 mg/kg ip) suggest that the DA2 receptor-mediated bradycardia and hypotension are greater in EC rats than in NC rats. In addition, heart rate and blood pressure responses to the alpha 2-agonist clonidine (0.1 mg/kg ip) and antagonist yohimbine (1 mg/kg ip) were not different between EC and NC rats. These data suggest that enhanced DA2 receptor influence accounts, in part, for the resting bradycardia and lower resting blood pressure demonstrated in EC rats after 12 wk of exercise conditioning.

Dopamine antagonizes the actions of angiotensin II in renal brush-border membrane.

In the present study, we examined the effects of dopamine and angiotensin II (ANG II) in renal brush-border membrane (BBM). With isolated BBM vesicles, dopamine (> 10(-4) M) directly inhibited BBM 22Na+ uptake and activated phospholipase C (PLC). These effects were mimicked by DA1 agonist but not DA2 agonist and were prevented by DA1 antagonist but not DA2 antagonist, indicating the involvement of DA1 receptors. In contrast to dopamine, ANG II directly stimulated BBM 22Na+ uptake and activated BBM phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Neither dopamine nor ANG II altered BBM adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate content. In the presence of dopamine, ANG II failed to stimulate BBM Na+ uptake and PLA2. However, both DA1 and DA2 agonists similarly abrogated the actions of ANG II, and both DA1 and DA2 antagonists were required to restore ANG II actions in the presence of dopamine, indicating the involvement of both DA1 and DA2 receptors in the antagonistic effect of dopamine. Dopamine, as well as DA1 or DA2 agonists, also lowered 125I-ANG II BBM binding. In summary, these results show that, in renal BBM, dopamine impedes ANG II receptor binding and antagonizes the stimulatory effects of ANG II on Na+ uptake and PLA2. This occurred through both DA1 and DA2 receptors and independent of DA1 effects on BBM Na+ uptake or PLC.

Comparative Effects of Alpha-2 and DA-2 Agonists on Intraocular Pressure in Pigmented and Nonpigmented Rabbits

Alpha-2 and DA2 adrenoceptor agonists produce ocular hypotension in cats, rabbits, monkeys and humans. In this study, the effects of topical, unilateral administration of medetomidine (MED), an alpha-2 agonist, and Ha-118 (HA), a DA2 agonist, were compared on intraocular pressure (IOP) in normal, unilaterally sympathectomized (SX), and ocular hypertensive (oral water loaded) Dutch Belted (DB) and New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. MED (75 micrograms) produced bilateral ocular hypotensive effects in both DB and NZW normal rabbits; however, HA (250 micrograms) lowered IOP unilaterally in NZW rabbits only. MED (25 micrograms) inhibited the rise in IOP caused by oral water loading in both DB and NZW rabbits; HA, on the other hand, was effective only in NZW rabbits. Topical bilateral pretreatment with metoclopramide, a DA2 antagonist, inhibited the ocular antihypertensive effect of HA in NZW rabbits. The IOP lowering effects of MED were absent in the SX eyes of DB and NZW rabbits, but hypotensive responses to MED were present in normal (contralateral) eyes of both strains. In contrast, HA was effective only in the treated, normal eyes of SX NZW rabbits. These data support pharmacodynamic roles for alpha-2 and DA2 receptors in modulating IOP. The lack of activity by HA in DB rabbit eyes suggests a possible absence of DA2 receptors or excessive binding of HA to pigment in the anterior segment of DB rabbit eyes.

The synthesis of trans-3,4-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)pyrrolidine, a novel DA1 agonist.

The synthesis of trans-3,4-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)pyrrolidine by the Michael reaction of esterenolate with nitro olefin is described. This compound was expected to be the agonist toward dopamine (DA1) receptor with equipotent affinity and to be more selective than dopamine itself.

Activation of an apomorphine behavior pattern by cocaine: a new behavioral test for drug substitution

In current tests for drug substitution using the 2-choice operant bar press paradigm, an animal can be trained to respond differentially between an interoceptive drug state stimulus vs. saline. Despite the long history and extensive number of investigations, the interpretation of such test results, nevertheless, is limited by number of potential sources of stimulus drug effects which can occur with repeated drug administration but which cannot be distinguished by this paradigm: (1) local effects at the injection site; (2) peripheral effects; (3) central activity effects; and/or (4) sensory-motor dysfunctional effects. By using a video-image analysis of behavior in an intact animal model and a pavlovian drug treatment protocol, new, spontaneous but environmentally contingent and stable behavior patterns emerge selectively in the paired treatment group with repeated drug administration which can be used as a behavioral marker to assess dose-response effects and drug substitution test results with a novel drug. A study with repeated administration of the DA agonist apomorphine and with a drug substitution assessement by a cocaine drug test is presented as a reference example to illustrate the new response-based methodological approach to the study of central mechanisms mediating the stimulus and response effects of drugs. Additionally, the observed efficacy of cocaine to activate a complex acquired behavioral pattern unique to repeated apomorphine treatment supports a critical role for dopaminergic mechanisms in the mediation of cocaine induced stereotypy.

Repeated stimulation of D 1 dopamine receptors causes time-dependent alterations in the sensitivity of both D 1 and D 2 dopamine receptors within the rat striatum

Recent evidence suggests that repeated stimulation of D 1 dopamine receptors within the rat striatum leads to an enhancement of both D 1 and D 2 dopamine receptor-mediated responses. The present study used both behavioral observations and extracellular single unit recording techniques to investigate this phenomenon following repeated administration of selective D 1 dopamine receptor agonists. Groups of rats received twice daily administration of either saline or the partial D 1 dopamine receptor agonist SKF 38393 (8 mg/kg, s.c.) for three weeks. Rats were tolerant to the ability of SKF 38393 to enhance grooming behavior when tested immediately following the last of the 42 treatment injections. However, the ability of this last SKF 38393 injection to potentiate oral stereotyped behavior following administration of the D 2 DA agonist quinpirole was still evident. Following a one-day withdrawal, grooming responses to SKF 38393 had returned to normal. At this time, administration of quinpirole, without concomitant SKF 38393, failed to significantly promote oral stereotypies, as is typical of normal rats. Following a one-week withdrawal period, SKF 38393-induced grooming behavior was significantly enhanced and quinpirole, administered without SKF 38393, produced pronounced oral stereotyped behavior in 10 of 12 rats tested. Following a one-month withdrawal, these sensitized responses were no longer evident. Single-cell recordings from rat lateral striatal neurons revealed similar time-dependent alterations in the effects of iontophoretically administered SKF 38393 and quinpirole. Current-response curves revealed that, without a withdrawal period, striatal neurons were subsensitive to the inhibitory effects of SKF 38393 but not quinpirole. The decreased inhibitory responses of striatal neurons to SKF 38393 returned to normal levels after a one-day withdrawal. Following a one-week withdrawal, the effects of both agonists were significantly greater than that in saline-treated controls. Normosensitivity was evident following a one-month withdrawal. Repeated administration of the full D 1 DA agonist SKF 81297 (0.5 mg/kg, s.c., twice daily) also resulted in sensitized responses of striatal neurons following a one-week withdrawal, demonstrating that the sensitization to SKF 38393 was not due to its partial agonist character. The present findings provide both behavioral and electrophysiological evidence that repeated stimulation of D 2 dopamine receptors results in a brief subsensitivity, followed by transient sensitization of the D 1 receptors. The enhanced effects of D 2 dopamine agonists might be due to an enhanced synergism (enabling) produced by endogenous dopamine stimulating supersensitive D 1 receptors. However, the possibility of a direct change in D 2 dopamine receptor sensitivity cannot be eliminated since the D 1 receptor appears to regulate D 2 receptor sensitivity under certain conditions. Given the similarity of these results to those obtained following repeated administration of psychomotor stimulants, it is argued that striatal D 1 receptor supersensitivity may play a role in behavioral sensitization.

Dopamine inhibits Na/K-ATPase in single tubules and cultured cells from distal nephron

Dopamine decreases tubular sodium reabsorption, attributed in part to Na/K-ATPase inhibition in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). Because the final regulation of sodium excretion occurs in the collecting duct, where we have demonstrated specific dopamine DA1 binding sites, we examined the effects of dopamine, and of DA1 and DA2 receptor agonists on the Na/K pump in the microdissected rat cortical collecting duct (CCD) and in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, a line derived from the dog distal nephron. Dopamine inhibited pump activity in CCD by approximately 40%-50%, an effect proportionally larger than in the PCT. Unlike in the latter, the effect of dopamine was reproduced by the DA1 agonist fenoldopam, which inhibited the CCD pump in dose-dependent manner (maximum, 10 microM). The DA2 agonist quinpirole was without effect, either alone or in combination with fenoldopam. These actions on Na/K-ATPase paralleled in reciprocal fashion effects on adenylate cyclase: dopamine or fenoldopam, but not quinpirole, produced a significant increase in cAMP content, and the stimulation by dopamine was blocked by SCH 23390. Inhibitors of cAMP phosphodiesterase (3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine and theophylline), as well as forskolin and dibutyryl-cAMP, mimicked the effect of dopamine on the pump, underscoring the role of increased cAMP in this phenomenon. Both dopamine and fenoldopam inhibited Na/K-ATPase activity in MDCK cells. The results indicate that besides the PCT dopamine inhibits Na/K-ATPase activity in cells of the distal nephron, where its effect on the pump appears to be more pronounced and is mediated by activation of the DA1 receptor. The natriuretic effect of dopamine is probably exerted at both proximal and distal nephron sites.

Strain-dependent effects of post-training dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists on memory storage in mice

Post-training administration of the selective D1 or D2 agonists SKF 38393 and LY 171555 dose dependently impairs retention of an inhibitory avoidance response in DBA/2 mice. In agreement, the selective D1 or D2 antagonists SCH 23390 and (-)-sulpiride improve retention. These effects are opposite to those observed in the C57BL/6 strain, as previously reported. Moreover, B6D2F1 hybrids present a response to SKF 38393, LY 171555, SCH 23390, and (-)-sulpiride that parallels that of the C57BL/6 strain, thus suggesting that the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of DA agonists or antagonists on memory processes may be inherited through a dominant mode of inheritance.

The antagonistic effects of tetrahydroprotoberberines on dopamine receptors: electrophysiological studies.

Tetrahydroprotoberberines (THPBs), including (-)-stepholidine ((-)-SPD), (-)-tetrahydropalmatine ((-)-THP) and tetrahydroberberine (THB), have been demonstrated to be a new class of DA antagonists in biochemical and neuropharmacological studies. In this paper, the antagonistic action of THPBs was examined by means of single unit recording from nigral DA neuron in chloral hydrate-anesthetized and gallamine-paralyzed rats. Intravenous injection of these compounds could promptly and completely reverse the inhibition of the spontaneous firing induced by DA agonist apomorphine (APO) in a dose-dependent way. Pretreatment with (-)-SPD, (-)-THP or THB could significantly reduce the inhibitory effect of APO and shift the dose-action curve to the right. Besides, the compounds could increase the spontaneous firing of DA neurons. The above results not only strongly support the conclusion that (-)-SPD, (-)-THP and THB are DA antagonists, but also demonstrate that one of their blocking sites is at somatodendritic DA autoreceptors (D-2 receptors). In other words, (-)-SPD did not exhibit any DA agonistic action in this acute electrophysiological study, although its DA agonistic action can be demonstrated in rotational behavior of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. The dual actions of (-)-SPD, dependent upon different experimental conditions, are discussed.

Alcohol self-administration: role of mesolimbic dopamine.

It appears clear that ethanol reinforcement, like that of many abused drugs, utilizes the mesolimbic DA pathways. From the data presented on microinjection of DA agonists and antagonists, it would seem that only part of the regulatory process controlling ethanol drinking is directly involved with this pathway. Once drinking has begun, the DA antagonist raclopride results in a rapid termination of drinking. This appears to be a blocking effect of what may be conditioned reinforcement resulting from prior ethanol reinforcement initiation procedures. Microinjection of the DA agonists d-amphetamine and quinpirole prolonged drinking, with little signs of normal termination apparent in the 30-min session in many animals. This appeared to be the result of interference with normal termination processes. While it remains to be demonstrated that oral ethanol consumption results in the release of DA in the nucleus accumbens, evidence from prior work and the present studies support a role for the mesolimbic DA system in ethanol reinforcement.

Endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation by dopamine in the rabbit pulmonary artery.

1. The relaxing response of dopamine (DA) was studied in the rabbit pulmonary artery. DA caused concentration-related relaxation in helically cut strips of the artery contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha in the presence of prazosin. 2. The DA-induced relaxation in endothelium-denuded strips was reduced to about 40% compared with that in endothelium-intact strips. 3. Methylene blue and haemoglobin, inhibitors of endothelium-dependent relaxation, reduced the DA-induced relaxations in endothelium-intact strips to the level of endothelium-denuded strips. These results indicate that the DA-induced relaxation is partially mediated or modified by the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). 4. Apomorphine, as a DA agonist, caused concentration-dependent relaxation in endothelium-intact strips. Bromocriptine, a DA2 agonist, produced only a little relaxation at higher concentration. 5. In endothelium-intact strips, haloperidol, a DA antagonist, and the DA1 antagonists, fluphenazine and SCH 23390 inhibited DA-induced relaxations. On the other hand spiperone and domperidone, DA2 antagonists, were inactive. 6. In endothelium-denuded strips, fluphenazine and SCH 23390 inhibited DA-induced relaxations, but domperidone was inactive. 7. These results indicate that the DA-induced relaxation is mediated by DA receptors, and that DA1 receptors are involved in both endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation in the rabbit pulmonary artery.

Dopamine DA1 receptor agonist, fenoldopam, reverses glycine-induced hyperfiltration in rats.

Stimulation of dopamine DA1 receptors can prevent glomerular hyperfiltration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In the present study we have therefore investigated whether the DA1 agonist, fenoldopam, can prevent glycine-induced hyperfiltration. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were measured by inulin and p-aminohippurate clearances in conscious chronically instrumented rats. Glycine (3.7 mg/min iv; n = 8) significantly increased GFR by 37% (from 1.09 +/- 0.53 to 1.49 +/- 0.11 ml.100 g-1.min-1, P less than 0.01), ERPF by 23% (from 2.96 +/- 0.30 to 3.64 +/- 0.43 ml.100 g-1.min-1, P less than 0.05), and filtration fraction (FF) by 13% (from 0.39 +/- 0.04 to 0.44 +/- 0.05, P less than 0.05). Fenoldopam, at a dose (1 microgram.kg-1.min-1 iv; n = 8) that increased ERPF by 26%, decreased FF by 13%, but did not change GFR, significantly attenuated the glycine-induced hyperfiltration. In the presence of fenoldopam, glycine resulted in only an 8% increase in GFR (from 1.08 +/- 0.07 to 1.17 +/- 0.09 ml.100 g-1.min-1; n = 8). ERPF increased by 20% (from 3.34 +/- 0.24 to 4.00 +/- 0.21 ml.100 g-1.min-1, P less than 0.05), and FF decreased by 13% (from 0.34 +/- 0.03 to 0.29 +/- 0.02, P less than 0.05). Infusion of the DA1-selective antagonist, Sch 23390, abolished the effects of fenoldopam. Thus DA1 receptor activation can prevent glomerular hyperfiltration induced by glycine.

Intrarenal DA2 dopamine receptor stimulation in the conscious dog.

DA2 dopamine receptors are present in renal blood vessels and glomeruli. Stimulation of DA1 dopamine receptors leads to renal vasodilation, diuresis, and natriuresis, but a functional role for renal DA2 receptors is largely unknown. We investigated the possible role of DA2 receptors in the control of renal function by intrarenal infusion of a highly specific DA2 agonist, LY 171555 (LY), in conscious uninephrectomized dogs (n = 5) in metabolic balance at sodium intake of 40 meq/day. The infusion of LY at 0.5 pmol.kg-1.min-1 did not change the urinary sodium excretion or renal hemodynamic function. A significant dose-dependent antidiuresis (F = 8.1, P less than 0.0001) and antinatriuresis (F = 93.3, P less than 0.0001) and a decrease in filtration fraction (F = 2.3, P less than 0.02) occurred as the LY dose was increased from 1.0 to 10.0 pmol.kg-1.min-1. There were no changes in systemic plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone concentration, or mean arterial pressure during intrarenal LY administration. These data suggest that intrarenal DA2 receptor stimulation with LY decreases renal sodium excretion in part by hemodynamic mechanisms. Renal dopamine may act at vascular and/or glomerular DA2 receptors to modulate renal function.

Control of electrolyte transport in the kidney through a dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, DARPP-32.

1. DARPP-32 is a phosphoprotein regulated by dopamine and cAMP. In its phosphorylated form it acts as an inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1, thereby regulating the phosphorylation state of phosphoproteins in the basal ganglia. 2. In the kidney, DARPP-32 has been detected in the medullary thick ascending limb of Henle (mTAL) and, to a lesser degree, in the proximal convoluted tubule by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. 3. In single microdissected tubules of rat kidney, Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity, measured as ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis, has been shown to be inhibited to the same degree by the DA1 agonist fenoldopam, cAMP and a synthesized and phosphorylated DARPP-32 peptide, D32(8-38). 4. It is concluded that the DA1 receptor-mediated inhibition of Na+ transport in the mTAL by dopamine occurs via cAMP accumulation and the phosphoprotein, DARPP-32.

Intracellular signaling in the regulation of renal Na-K-ATPase. I. Role of cyclic AMP and phospholipase A2.

We have reported that dopamine (DA) inhibits Na-K-ATPase activity in the cortical collecting duct (CCD) by stimulating the DA1 receptor, and the present study was designed to evaluate the mechanism of this effect. Short-term exposure (15-30 min) of microdissected rat CCD to DA, a DA1 agonist (fenoldopam), vasopressin (AVP), forskolin, or dibutyryl cAMP (dBcAMP), which increase cAMP content by different mechanisms, strongly (approximately 60%) inhibited Na-K-ATPase activity. 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, completely blocked Na-K-ATPase inhibition by DA or fenoldopam, and IP20, an inhibitor peptide of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), abolished the Na:K pump effect of all the cAMP agonists listed above. To verify whether the mechanism of pump inhibition by agents that increase cell cAMP involves phospholipase A2 (PLA2), we used mepacrine, a PLA2 inhibitor, which also abolished Na-K-ATPase inhibition by DA or fenoldopam, as well as by AVP, forskolin, or dBcAMP. Arachidonic acid (10(-7) - 10(-4) M) inhibited Na-K-ATPase activity in dose-dependent fashion. Corticosterone, which induces lipomodulin, a PLA2 inhibitor protein inactivated by PKA, equally abolished the pump effects of DA, fenoldopam, forskolin, and dBcAMP, suggesting that lipomodulin might act between PKA and PLA2 in cAMP-dependent pump regulation. We conclude that dopamine inhibits Na-K-ATPase activity in the CCD through a DA1 receptor-mediated cAMP-PKA pathway that involves the stimulation of PLA2 and arachidonic acid release, possibly mediated by inactivation of lipomodulin. This pathway is shared by other agonists that increase cell cAMP and thus stimulate PKA activity.

DA1 receptor mediated regulation of Na(+)-H+ antiport activity in rat renal cortical brush border membrane vesicles.

Our previous studies indicate that dopamine (DA) plays an important role in regulating renal sodium (Na+) metabolism during high Na+ intake, and that DA1 receptors are involved in natriuretic response to acute volume expansion. It has also been shown that in addition to the changes in renal hemodynamics, the natriuretic response produced by exogenously administered DA and DA1 receptor agonists appears to be due to alterations in renal tubular sodium transport mechanisms. This study was designed to investigate the DA1 receptor-mediated changes in Na(+)-H+ antiport activity in tubular brush border membranes of rat kidney. The Na(+)-H+ antiport activity, measured as the amiloride-sensitive Na+ influx in BBMV, was inhibited by 37%, 46%, 33%, and 42% by 1 microM DA, SKF 82958, SKF 38393, and fenoldopam respectively. The DA1 antagonist SCH 23390 increased the antiport activity when given alone, while when administered with an agonist it attenuated the effects of the agonist on the antiporter. DA2 agonists and antagonists failed to affect the antiport activity. These results indicate that the inhibitory effects of DA and DA receptor agonists on Na(+)-H+ antiport activity in renal cortical BBMV were mediated by the DA1 receptors.

Evidence that prolactin mediates the stimulatory effects of estrogen on tuberoinfundibular dopamine neurons in female rats.

The effects of ovariectomy and estrogen on prolactin secretion and/or the activity of tuberoinfundibular dopamine (TIDA) neurons were examined by either concurrently measuring concentrations of prolactin in plasma and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the median eminence of female rats or by determining the rate of DA synthesis (accumulation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) after the administration of a decarboxylase inhibitor) in the median eminence. For comparison, concentrations of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha MSH) in plasma and DOPAC in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary (an index of the activity of tuberohypophysial DA neurons) were also determined. Ovariectomy produced a time-dependent decrease in the accumulation of DOPA and the concentrations of DOPAC in the median eminence and prolactin in plasma with maximal effects occurring by 7 days. Estrogen administration to ovariectomized rats increased plasma prolactin and median eminence DOPAC concentrations to levels comparable to those in diestrous controls. In contrast, neither ovariectomy nor estrogen replacement altered the concentrations of alpha MSH in plasma or DOPAC in the intermediate lobe. Administration of the DA agonist bromocriptine blocked the ability of estrogen to increase plasma prolactin and median eminence DOPAC concentrations. Also, administration of antiserum to rat prolactin blocked the stimulatory action of estrogen on median eminence DOPAC concentrations. Taken together, these results indicate that the stimulatory effect of estrogen on the activity of TIDA neurons is mediated by prolactin.

Post-training dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists affect memory storage in mice irrespective of their selectivity for D1 or D2 receptors

Post-training administration of the selective D1 and D2 agonists SKF 38393 and LY 171555 dose-dependently facilitated retention of an inhibitory avoidance response in mice, while the selective D1 or D2 antagonists SCH 23390 and (-)sulpiride produced an impairment of retention. These effects are not to be ascribed to a nonspecific action of the drugs on retention performance, as the latencies during the retention test of those mice that had not received a footshock during the training were not increased by the post-training drug administration. The effects on retention performance induced by DA agonists and antagonists seem to be due to an effect on memory consolidation, since they have been observed when drugs were given at short, but not at long, periods of time after training. These results showing a similar role of D1 and D2 receptor types on memory storage appear not to be consistent with a body of neuropharmacological, neurophysiological, and behavioral evidence pointing to a different functional role of these types of DA receptors. This discrepancy is discussed in terms of possible involvement of different brain systems, peripheral systems, or possible second messenger processes activated by the two receptor types and leading to similar effects on memory processes.

DA1 dopamine receptors in renal cortical collecting duct

Renal dopamine DA1 receptors are linked to the regulation of sodium transport. We have previously reported the presence of DA1 receptors in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) but not in the distal convoluted tubule. However, the DA1 receptor in the collecting duct, the final determinant of electrolyte transport, has not been studied. DA1 receptors were studied in the microdissected cortical collecting duct (CCD) of rats by autoradiography with use of the selective DA1 radioligand 125I-Sch 23982 and by measurement of adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. Specific binding of 125I-Sch 23982 to CCD was saturable with radioligand concentration. The dissociation constant (Kd) was 0.46 +/- 0.08 nM (n = 5), and the maximum receptor density (Bmax) was 1.41 +/- 0.43 fmol/mg protein (n = 5). The DA1 antagonist Sch 23390 was more effective than the DA1 agonist fenoldopam in competing for specific 125I-Sch 23982 binding. Fenoldopam stimulated AC activity in CCD in a concentration-dependent (10(-9)-10(-6) M) manner. The ability of fenoldopam to stimulate AC activity was similar in CCD and PCT even though DA1 receptor density was 1,000 times greater in the CCD than in the PCT. In additional studies, fenoldopam stimulation of AC activity did not influence vasopressin-stimulated AC activity. We conclude that the DA1 receptor in rat CCD is tightly coupled to AC stimulation and that there is no interaction between DA1 agonist-stimulated and vasopressin-stimulated AC activity in the CCD.