Dopamine D3 receptor antagonists as therapeutic agents

The behavioral and pathophysiological role of the dopamine D3 receptor, which was deduced from anatomical, lesion and drug treatment studies in the ten years following cloning of the receptor, indicated that its functions differed from those of the D2 receptor. There is increasingly strong evidence that D3 receptor antagonists will be effective antipsychotic agents. In this regard, an amelioration of the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia holds the most promise for D3 receptor antagonists, a concept currently under clinical evaluation. In addition, D3 receptors could be involved in behavioral sensitization and the potential application of D3 receptor antagonists in the treatment of drug abuse is undergoing intensive experimental investigation.