Receptor binding studies with a variety of dopaminergic ligands have confirmed behavioral and biochemical findings that the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system contain several dopamine receptor subtypes. These subtypes can be discriminated on the basis of their agonist-antagonist pharmacological specificities, linkage to adenylate cyclase, cellular location, regulation by guanine neucleotides and ions, and involvement in several human diseases. Although questions remain unanswered, progress is rapidly being made in equating the subgroupings arrived at by these different experimental approaches. Dopamine receptors are regulated by a number of factors. Acutely, guanine nucleotides and some ions regulate agonist but not antagonist binding and are essential for receptor coupling with adenylate cyclase. Chronically, changes in the level of dopaminergic stimulation modulate the number of at least some receptor subtypes, resulting in "up or down regulation." An increase in receptor number appears central to the pathology of Parkinson's disease, tardive dyskinesia, and perhaps schizophrenia. Animal models indicate that it may be possible to exploit inherent capabilities for receptor modulation in clinical therapy. The therapeutic precedents set by the indentification of distinct subtypes of adrenoreceptors. histamine, and cholinergic receptors portends and exciting future for dopamine receptor research.