Pharmacological evidence for cerebral dopamine receptor blockade by metoclopramide in rodents

Psychopharmacologia. 1975;41(2):133-8. doi: 10.1007/BF00421070.

Abstract

Metoclopramide antagonises apomorphine-induced stereotypy in rats (ED50 1.5 mg/kg), apomorphine reversal of reserpine-induced locomotor suppression in mice (50% inhibition produced by 17 mg/kg), and apomorphine- or amphetamine-induced turning behaviour in mice with unilateral lesions of the striatal dopaminergic nerve terminals (ED505.0 and 4.0 mg/kg respectively). Metoclopramide resembles pimozide in all these respects and appears to be a relatively potent antagonist of striatal dopamine receptors. Yet metoclopramide, in anti-emetic doses, has no effect on disability in Parkinson's disease or on the therapeutic benefit of L-Dopa and L-Dopa dyskinesias.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apomorphine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Corpus Striatum / physiology
  • Dopamine / physiology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metoclopramide / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Parkinson Disease
  • Pimozide / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Drug*
  • Reserpine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Rotation
  • Stereotyped Behavior / drug effects
  • Substantia Nigra / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Drug
  • Pimozide
  • Reserpine
  • Metoclopramide
  • Apomorphine
  • Dopamine