Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors mediate opposite effects of apomorphine on the body temperature of reserpinized mice.

In mice, rendered poikilothermic by a prior (18 hr) subcutaneous administration of reserpine (3 mg/kg), the subcutaneous administration of apomorphine increased dose-dependently the body temperature. This effect was potentiated by the specific D2 dopamine antagonist sulpiride. On the contrary, it was reduced by the specific D1 dopamine antagonist SCH 23390. A desensitization of D2 receptors was produced by the repeated administration of the specific D2 agonist RU 24926. This pretreatment led to an increased efficacy of apomorphine in antagonizing reserpine-induced hypothermia. Similarly, a desensitization of D1 receptors was created by the repeated administration of the specific D1 agonist CY 208-243. This pretreatment significantly diminished the efficacy of apomorphine in antagonizing reserpine-induced hypothermia. The repeated administration of the D1 agonist CY 208-243, in non-reserpinized mice, significantly increased the hypothermic effect of apomorphine (1 mg/kg). Thus, it appears that, in normal mice, but especially in reserpinized mice, the stimulation of D1 receptors by apomorphine induces an increase in body temperature that is masked, especially in normal mice, by the hypothermic effect, resulting from the simultaneous stimulation of D2 receptors.