Factors contributing to the up regulation of dopaminergic receptors by chronic haloperidol.

The relationship of the magnitude and persistence of elevated striatal dopamine receptor binding sites to the dose and duration of haloperidol treatment has been examined in rats. The magnitude of elevation was found to be significantly related both to dose and duration of dose. The persistence of statistically significant receptor binding elevation, after withdrawal, was estimated to be 0.67 days/day on haloperidol. Receptor binding was carried out with 3H-spiroperidol.