L-dopa causes an acute, partial and reversible reversal of denervation-induced supersensitivity of striatal dopaminergic receptors.
Denervation-induced supersensitivity of the striatal dopamine receptors can be quantified by the turning behaviour induced by apomorphine. With this experimental model we found that high-dose L-dopa/carbidopa administration reduced this supersensitivity. This effect was seen on the 1st day and did not alter over 5 or 10 days of treatment, but disappeared when medication was discontinued. The degree of reduction was the same, independent of the dose and period of administration. This effect could provide a useful model for studying the phenomenon of the irreversibility of the supersensitivity of the striatal dopamine receptors.
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003714:Denervation; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects*; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D007980:Levodopa; D002230:Carbidopa; D001058:Apomorphine