Dopamine facilitates dendritic spine formation by cultured striatal medium spiny neurons through both D1 and D2 dopamine receptors

► A co-culture model of striatal neurons with purified dopamine neurons was developed. ► Dopamine neurons stimulate dendritic spine formation by striatal medium spiny neurons. ► The increase in dendritic spine genesis involves both D1 and D2 dopamine receptors. ► Dopamine induces a parallel increase in postsynaptic glutamate sensitivity.