title: The hypothyroid rat as a model of increased sensitivity to dopamine receptor agonists.
abstract: Control and hypothyroid rats were challenged with a range of doses (0.5-4 mumol/kg) of either the nonselective dopamine agonist, apomorphine, or the selective D2 receptor agonist. LY 171555, and their stereotyped head-down sniffing (SHDS) responses measured. The dose-response curves for both agonists were shifted to the left in the hypothyroid rats compared to water-treated controls. Increasing doses of the selective D2 antagonist, raclopride, caused a parallel shift to the right in the LY 171555-induced SHDS dose-response curve. Schild analysis revealed a decreased sensitivity to raclopride in the hypothyroid animals. The selective D1 antagonist SCH 23390 was observed to decrease the maximal response elicited by LY 171555 in a dose-dependent manner and the hypothyroid rats were more sensitive to this effect. It was concluded that hypothyroid rats showed an apparent increased sensitivity to D2 receptor agonists and a decreased sensitivity to D2 antagonists. In addition, the facilitation effect of the D1 receptor on the D2 receptor appeared less tightly coupled in the hypothyroid rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park, Adelaide.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Crocker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004873:Ergolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D019257:Quinpirole; D020891:Raclopride; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects*; D012457:Salicylamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004873:Ergolines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D012457:Salicylamides; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D019257:Quinpirole; D020891:Raclopride; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D013974:Thyroxine