Hypophysectomy does not prevent development of striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity induced by repeated neuroleptic treatment.

Hruska et al. (1980) reported that hypophysectomy prevented the onset of dopamine receptor supersensitivity. We have repeated this investigation administering haloperidol (0.75 mg/day) or sulpiride (2 X 15 mg/day) or saline for 17 days, followed by a 3 day drug washout period, to sham-operated or hypophysectomised rats. Haloperidol or sulpiride pretreatment caused an enhancement of apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviour and increased the number of specific striatal [3H]spiperone binding sites (Bmax) in both hypophysectomised and sham-operated animals compared to their respective saline controls. We conclude that hypophysectomy does not prevent the onset of striatal dopamine receptor supersensitivity induced by repeated neuroleptic treatment in the rat.