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Dopamine D2 receptor effects on GABA(A) receptor expression may modify melanotrope peptide release
S A Sands1, A L de Blas, B M Chronwall
1School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 64110, USA.
Abstract:
Stimulation of melanotrope dopamine D2 receptors decreases mitotic rate, calcium channel activity, and the biosynthesis of several proteins. This study demonstrates that D2 receptor activation also affects GABA(A) receptor beta2/beta3 subunit immunoreactivity. Following chronic treatment with haloperidol, a D2 receptor antagonist, GABA(A) receptor immunoreactivity increased, whereas it decreased after chronic treatment with bromocriptine, a dopamine D2 receptor agonist. Thus, these data indicate that D2 function regulates GABA(A) receptor expression in melanotropes, a mechanism by which peptide release may be modified.