Effects of selective dopamine receptor compounds on single, spontaneously-active neostriatal neurons

1. The effects of selective dopamine receptor compounds on the spontaneous activity of single neostriatal neurons were examined extracellularly. 2. Intravenous administration of quinpirole, the D2 agonist, elicited a dose-dependent depression in discharge rate. 3. Quinpirole-evoked depression was reversed by the D2 antagonist eticlopride, but not the D1 antagonist SCH 23390. 4. The partial D1 agonist, SKF 38393 induced depression and excitation in equal proportion. 5. A dose of 0.25 mg/kg SCH 23390 blocked SKF 38393-induced depression but not excitation. 6. SKF 38393-induced excitation was antagonized by eticlopride and in some cases by a higher dose of SCH 23390.