Bromocriptine potentiates the behavioural effects of directly and indirectly acting dopamine receptor agonists in mice.

After an initial period of depression which lasted up to 90 min following injection, bromocriptine (BRC, 5-20 mg/kg, IP) produced dose-dependent and long lasting (7 h) locomotor stimulation in mice. The locomotor stimulation was antagonised by reserpine, alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (AMPT) or haloperidol. The blockade by AMPT of BRC's locomotor stimulant effect was reversed by prior treatment of the mice with a low, behaviourally inactive dose of L-Dopa plus benserazide. In mice pretreated with reserpine, BRC enhanced the stimulant action of d-amphetamine. Moreover, in mice pretreated with reserpine plus AMPT, BRC significantly enhanced the locomotor stimulant effect of apomorphine. This ability of BRC to enhance the effect of apomorphine commenced as soon as 20 min after BRC administration and lasted for at least 8 h. The dopamine (DA) uptake inhibitor and DA receptor agonist nomifensine potentiated and prolonged the stimulant effect of BRC while inhibitors of the neuronal uptake of noradrenaline (desipramine) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (fluoxetine) were without marked effect. The results clearly show that BRC, in behavioural terms, has no efficacy per se at the postsynaptic DA receptor and that it requires either DA or the administration of an exogenous agonist such as apomorphine for the expression of its effects.