Enduring changes in dopamine receptor cells of pups from drug administration to pregnant and nursing rats.

A decrease in specific [3H]spiroperidol binding to rat caudate tissue and a parallel decrease in sensitivity to apomorphine in eliciting stereotyped behavior was observed in the offspring of rat mothers treated with either haloperidol or alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine-methyl ester during pregnancy. In contrast, evidence of increased dopamine-receptor sensitivity was observed in the pups if haloperidol was administered to their mothers postpartum during nursing rather than during pregnancy.