Differential induction of adenylyl cyclase supersensitivity by antiparkinson drugs acting as agonists at dopamine D1/D2/D3 receptors vs D2/D3 receptors only: Parallel observations from co-transfected human and native cerebral receptors

Though there is evidence that sustained exposure of dopamine (DA) receptors to agonists can elicit a supersensitivity of adenylyl cyclase (AC), little is known about the pharmacological characteristics of this phenomenon, and possible interrelationships amongst DA receptor subtypes have not been examined. In cells co-transfected with D1 plus D2, or D1 plus D3, receptors, which are known to physically and functionally interact, long-term exposure to quinpirole, pramipexole and ropinirole (which possess negligible affinities for D1 sites) elicited supersensitivity of D1 receptor-activated AC. By contrast, D2/D3 receptor agonists that also act as D1 receptor agonists, bromocriptine, lisuride, cabergoline, apomorphine and DA itself, did not elicit supersensitivity. Interestingly, AC supersensitivity was also observed in the nucleus accumbens of mice pretreated with twice-daily pramipexole and quinpirole, whereas no change was seen either with lisuride or with the DA precursor, l-DOPA. Thus, AC supersensitivity is elicited by the sustained exposure of cloned human and native mouse populations of dopaminergic receptors, to D2/D3 but not D1/D2/D3 agonists. These observations may be related to the exacerbation of gambling in Parkinson's disease that is provoked by antiparkinson agents acting as selective D2/D3 receptor agonists, notably pramipexole.

Research highlights► Dopamine D2 and D3 receptor stimulation induces adenylyl cyclase supersensitivity. ► In D2/D1 and D3/D1 co-transfected cells supersensitivity depends on the agonist used. ► Quinpirole, pramipexole and ropinirole induce adenylyl cyclase supersensitivity. ► Bromocriptine, lisuride, cabergoline and apomorphine don't induce supersensitivity. ► Quinpirole and pramipexole induce adenylyl cyclase supersensitivity in mouse brain.