INACTIVATION OF D1 AND D2 DOPAMINE-RECEPTORS BY N-ETHOXYCARBONYL-2-ETHOXY-1,2-DIHYDROQUINOLINE INVIVO - SELECTIVE PROTECTION BY NEUROLEPTICS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 233  (3) , 656-662
Abstract
Treatment of rats with the peptide coupling agent N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (6 mg/kg i.p.) irreversibly reduced the binding of [3H]spiperone ([3H]SPIP) and cis-[3H] piflutixol to striatal D2 and D1 receptors, respectively, by 70-75%. In each instance only the receptor density was affected, without a change in Kd of either radioligand. Pretreatment with sulpiride (200 mg/kg i.p.), a selective D2 antagonist, preferentially protected [3H]SPIP sites against N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline-induced inactivation, whereas pretreatment with SCH 23390 (3 mg/kg i.p.), a putative selective D1 antagonist, preferentially blocked the inactivation of cis-[3H]piflutixol binding sites. N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline markedly reduced radioligand binding to cortical .alpha.-1 ([3H]prazosin) and .alpha.-2 ([3H]yohimbine) receptors (10-20% of control) but had a lesser effect on serotonin-2 ([3H]SPIP) and serotonin-1 ([3H]5-HT) receptors (30-40% of control). Muscarinic cholinergic ([3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate) and .beta. adrenergic ([3H]dihydroalprenolol) receptors were only slightly affected. None of these nondopaminergic sites were protected by sulpiride or SCH 23390, with the exception of serotonin-2 and serotonin-1 which were partially protected by the latter. SPIP (0.2 mg/kg i.p.), haloperidol (1 mg/kg i.p.) and pimozide (2 mg/kg i.p.) all selectively protected the D2 receptor, whereas cis-flupenthixol (2 mg/kg i.p.) protected both dopamine receptors; its inactive isomer trans-flupenthixol (20 mg/kg i.p.) protected neither. Bulbocaprine (25 mg/kg s.c.) selectively, but partially, protected the D1 site. This method permits the objective in vivo assessment of drug selectivity at various receptors, and, more importantly, has potential application for the study of the functional significance of selective dopamine receptor activation.