Abnormal involuntary movement (AIM) expression following D2 dopamine agonist challenge is determined by the nature of prior dopamine receptor stimulation (priming) in 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats

► Priming with D1, D2 or D1/D2 agonists in 6-OHDA rats leads to sensitization of AIMs. ► Treatment of 6-OHDA rats with D2 agonist leads to primarily axial and locomotor AIMs. ► D1 stimulation in 6-OHDA rats leads to larger repertoire of AIMs than D2 stimulation. ► D2 challenge in 6-OHDA rats leads to AIMs that mirror the responses during priming.