Dopamine D1 receptors in the sub-commissural part of the globus pallidus and their role in oro-facial dyskinesia in cats.

The possible role of dopamine D1 receptors in the sub-commissural part of the globus pallidus in the induction of oro-facial dyskinesia was studied in cats. The present study reveals two findings. Firstly, bilateral injections of the D1 agonist (+/-)-SK& F38393 into the ventral pallidal area elicited oro-facial dyskinesia, which was quantified in terms of numbers of tongue protrusions. The results show that the dose-effect curve was bell-shaped (1.0, 1.75, 2.5, 5.0 micrograms/0.5 microliters (+/-)-SK&F38393). The oro-facial dyskinesia elicited by (+/-)-SK&F38393 was highly comparable to the oro-facial dyskinesia elicited by injections of the GABA antagonist picrotoxin or the acetylcholine agonist carbachol into the sub-commissural part of the globus pallidus. Secondly, the inactive enantiomer of SK&F38393, i.e. S(-)-SK&F38393, was found to be ineffective in eliciting oro-facial dyskinesia when injected in a dose equivalent to 50% of the most effective dose of the racemic mixture of (+/-)-SK&F38393. Furthermore, the effect elicited by 2.5 micrograms/0.5 microliters (+/-)-SK&F38393 was significantly attenuated by local injection of the D1 antagonist R(+)-SCH23390 in a dose which had no effect itself (1.0 micrograms/0.5 microliters). These findings indicate that the effects elicited by (+/-)-SK&F38393 are D1-specific. The present results thus clearly indicate that dopamine D1 receptors within the sub-commissural part of the globus pallidus are involved in mediating oro-facial dyskinesia in cats.