Ks. Hsu et al., PRESYNAPTIC D-2 DOPAMINERGIC RECEPTORS MEDIATE INHIBITION OF EXCITATORY SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN RAT NEOSTRIATUM, Brain research, 690(2), 1995, pp. 264-268
The effect of dopamine (DA) on excitatory synaptic transmission was st
udied in rat neostriatal neurons using intracellular- and whole-cell v
oltage clamp-recording methods. Depolarizing excitatory postsynaptic p
otentials (EPSPs) were evoked by cortical stimulation. Superfusion of
DA (0.01-10 mu M) reversibly decreases EPSP in a concentration-depende
nt manner and with a estimated IC50 of 0.3 mu M. In addition, the inhi
bitory effect induced by DA at a low concentration (0.1 mu M) was anta
gonized by sulpiride (1-10 nM), a selective D-2 dopaminergic receptor
antagonist. However, D-1 dopaminergic receptor antagonist SKF-83566 (1
-5 mu M) did not affect the blocking effect by DA 0.1 mu M. Based on t
hese findings, we conclude that DA at a low concentration(less than or
equal to 0.1 mu M) reduced the excitatory response of neostriatal neu
rons following cortical stimulation via the activation of D-2, but not
D-1 dopaminergic receptors, located on the terminals of corticostriat
al neurons.