Increased binding of [3H]apomorphine in caudate membranes after dopamine pretreatment in vitro

Most patients with Parkinson's disease treated with L-dopa show a progressively deteriorating response which may possibly be attributed to an L-dopa-induced process of unknown origin. Long-term administration of dopamine-mimetic drugs to animals sometimes produces behavioural facilitation. To investigate one possible molecular mechanism of this facilitation or sensitization the effects of prolonged exposure, in vitro, of dopamine on the dopamine/neuroleptic receptors in the caudate nucleus of the calf were tested. Calf caudate homogenates pretreated with dopamine or other drugs were tested for the binding of [3H]apomorphine, [3H]haloperidol, 3H-WB-4101, or [3H]naloxine. Pre-exposure with dopamine or noradrenaline lead to an increased binding of [3H]apomorphine. The significance of the results is discussed. (author)