L-dopa reverses the elevated density of D2 dopamine receptors in Parkinson's diseased striatum

J Neural Transm. 1985;64(2):93-103. doi: 10.1007/BF01245971.

Abstract

Striatal dopamine receptors were studied using [3H]-spiperone in postmortem tissues of thirty-six patients with Parkinson's Disease. Each tissue was analyzed by the receptor saturation method. In non-treated patients, the D2 dopamine receptor density was elevated in the caudate nucleus and putamen compared to controls. The dissociation constant for [3H]-spiperone was similar in all groups. The elevated density of D2 receptors in non-treated patients may indicate dopaminergic supersensitivity in this disease. The elevated density was reversed with dopamine agonist therapy, but the density was not lower than control tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Caudate Nucleus / metabolism
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism*
  • Putamen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Dopamine / drug effects
  • Receptors, Dopamine / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Receptors, Dopamine
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Levodopa