The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
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J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Oct 1988
Interactions of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors on the ipsilateral vs. contralateral side in rats with unilateral lesions of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway.
In rats with a unilateral lesion of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway, the ipsilateral rotation produced by the enhanced actions of endogenous dopamine (DA) on the nonlesioned side, induced by either the DA-releasing drug amphetamine or the DA uptake inhibitor GBR 13069, was blocked effectively by pretreatment with either the selective D1 DA receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, or the D2 selective antagonist, haloperidol. In contrast, contralateral rotation produced by apomorphine or I-dihydroxyphenylalanine, which lead to the preferential activation of D1 and D2 receptors on the lesioned side, was effectively prevented only when both receptor subtypes were inhibited. The results of these experiments demonstrate that the interaction between D1 and D2 receptors in the lesioned side differs from that in the nonlesioned side. ⋯ However, the concurrent administration of the D1 agonist, SKF 38393, with the D2 agonist, LY 171555, produced a synergistic effect on contralateral rotation. These results suggest that there is preservation of at least some functional interaction between D1 and D2 receptors in the lesioned basal ganglia but that there may be in addition a mechanism by which the two receptor subtypes can function independently of each other. The unilaterally lesioned rat appears to be a very good model in which to study the interaction between D1 and D2 receptors under conditions of both normal innervation and of DA denervation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. · Oct 1988
Cardiovascular effects of rat calcitonin gene-related peptide in the conscious rat.
The role of rat calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a recently characterized vasoactive neuropeptide, in cardiovascular regulation was studied in the conscious rat. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, cardiac output (thermodilution technique) and regional blood flow (directional pulsed Doppler velocimetry) were monitored after i.v. or i.c.v. administration of CGRP. Systemic administration of CGRP (0.1-10 nmol/kg i.v.) decreased MAP and increased heart rate in a dose-related manner. ⋯ CGRP, i.c.v. (0.1-10 nmol/kg), induced a modest tachycardia in both intact and sinoaortic denervated rats, but was devoid of any other cardiovascular effects. The results indicate that CGRP is a potent vasodilator of mesenteric, renal and hindquarter skeletal muscle blood vessels in the conscious rat. The hypotensive and vasodilator actions of circulating CGRP are likely to be mediated by direct peripheral interaction with CGRP receptors on vascular smooth muscle, whereas its tachycardic effect seems to involve reflex activation of the sympathetic nervous system.