Dopamine receptor stimulation does not modulate the loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potential in humans.
BACKGROUND
The Loudness Dependence of the Auditory Evoked Potential (LDAEP) has been suggested as a reliable measure of central serotonin function in humans; however, its specificity for the serotonin system remains a topic of debate, with possible modulation of this purported serotonin marker by other neurotransmitters, including dopamine.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the effect of dopaminergic modulation on the LDAEP using the D1/D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist pergolide and the D2/D3 agonist bromocriptine.


METHODS
The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled repeated-measures design in which healthy participants were tested under three acute treatment conditions: placebo, bromocriptine (2.5 mg), and pergolide (0.1 mg). Changes in the amplitude of the N1/P2 at intensities (60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 dB) were examined at C Z.


RESULTS
Acute stimulation of D1/D2/D3 receptors with pergolide and D2/D3 receptors with bromocriptine in comparison with placebo had no effect on the LDAEP.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that acute stimulation of dopamine D1, D2, and D3 receptors does not modulate the LDAEP in humans. Although the findings suggest that the LDAEP may not be modulated by acute changes in dopamine neurotransmission, further studies are needed to fully characterize its dopaminergic sensitivity.
O'Neill
Barry V
BV
Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
Croft
Rodney J
RJ
Leung
Sumie
S
Guille
Valérie
V
Galloway
Matthew
M
Phan
K Luan
KL
Nathan
Pradeep J
PJ
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010479:Pergolide / Q000494:pharmacology; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D010479:Pergolide; D001971:Bromocriptine