Pharmacological Reviews Get Tables of Contents delivered automatically
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Bannon, M. J.
Right arrow Articles by Roth, R. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Bannon, M. J.
Right arrow Articles by Roth, R. H.

Pharmacological Reviews, Vol 35, 53-68, Copyright © 1983 by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Pharmacology of mesocortical dopamine neurons

MJ Bannon and RH Roth

The current information on the pharmacology and function of the DA innervation to the prefrontal cortex is a synthesis of data from several initially distinct areas of research. Some possible functions of the mesocortical DA system are suggested from the extensive studies conducted on the role of the prefrontal cortex in behavior, and also from the data on prefrontal cortical modulation of the output of subcortical DA systems. Meanwhile, anatomical, behavioral, biochemical, and electrophysiological studies on mesocortical DA neurons have largely resulted from interest in determining the site(s) and mechanism(s) of action of various psychotropic drugs, and particularly the antipsychotic drugs (DA antagonists). An interrelated field of study has investigated the functional role of DA autoreceptors. The mesocortical DA system possesses many unique characteristics compared to the nigrostriatal/mesolimbic DA systems, including 1) a higher DA turnover rate, 2) a higher rate and different pattern of neuronal discharge, 3) a greatly diminished responsiveness to DA agonists and antagonists, 4) a lack of tolerance to the effect of chronically administered DA antagonists, and 5) a selective activation by footshock stress. These characteristics may be due to the fact that the DA cells projecting to the prefrontal cortex lack DA autoreceptors, an important site for the physiological and pharmacological modulation of subcortical DA systems. This contention is further supported by recent studies on two distinct DA systems innervating, respectively, the anterior cingulate and piriform cortices: the former system, which lacks DA autoreceptors, responds much like the prefrontal cortical DA sy stem; the latter system, which possesses functional DA autoreceptors, manifests a pharmacological responsiveness similar to the nigrostriatal/mesolimbic DA systems (11, 14, 118, 119, 38). Autoreceptors may be an important target for future rational drug design. For example, DA agonists more selective for DA autoreceptors (65, 72) may be useful agents in the treatment of schizophrenia. If, however, these drugs prove ineffective in schizophrenic patients, it might help to explain the equivocal results obtained to date in the treatment of schizophrenia with low (autoreceptor-specific) doses of less selective DA agonists (for a review, see Ref. 97). A lack of clinical efficacy of DA autoreceptor agonists might also suggest that if a DA system is indirectly involved in schizophrenia the site of therapeutic action of antipsychotic drugs is a DA system (such as that innervating the prefrontal cortex) that lacks autoreceptors.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
AutismHome page
M. Liss, C. Saulnier, D. Fein, and M. Kinsbourne
Sensory and attention abnormalities in autistic spectrum disorders.
Autism, March 1, 2006; 10(2): 155 - 172.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Adv. Psychiatr. Treat.Home page
N. Turjanski and G. G. Lloyd
Psychiatric side-effects of medications: recent developments
Advan. Psychiatr. Treat., January 1, 2005; 11(1): 58 - 70.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeuroscientistHome page
J.-M. Fellous
Neuromodulatory Basis of Emotion
Neuroscientist, September 1, 1999; 5(5): 283 - 294.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
BrainHome page
J. S. Rakshi, T. Uema, K. Ito, D. L. Bailey, P. K. Morrish, J. Ashburner, A. Dagher, I. H. Jenkins, K. J. Friston, and D. J. Brooks
Frontal, midbrain and striatal dopaminergic function in early and advanced Parkinson's disease A 3D [18F]dopa-PET study
Brain, September 1, 1999; 122(9): 1637 - 1650.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
E. A. Pehek
Comparison of Effects of Haloperidol Administration on Amphetamine-Stimulated Dopamine Release in the Rat Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Dorsal Striatum
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., April 1, 1999; 289(1): 14 - 23.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
N. Turjanski, A. J. Lees, and D. J. Brooks
Striatal dopaminergic function in restless legs syndrome: 18F-dopa and 11C-raclopride PET studies
Neurology, March 1, 1999; 52(5): 932 - 932.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
M. S. Lidow and P. S. Goldman-Rakic
Differential Regulation of D2 and D4 Dopamine Receptor mRNAs in the Primate Cerebral Cortex vs. Neostriatum: Effects of Chronic Treatment with Typical and Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., November 1, 1997; 283(2): 939 - 946.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
CLIN PEDIATRHome page
F. X. Castellanos
Toward a Pathophysiology of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivint Disorder
Clinical Pediatrics, July 1, 1997; 36(7): 381 - 393.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J PsychopharmacolHome page
A. Fink-Jensen, L. Hansen, J. B. Hansen, and E. B. Nielsen
Regional differences in the effect of haloperidol and atypical neuroleptics on interstitial levels of DOPAC in the rat forebrain: an in vivo microdialysis study
J Psychopharmacol, January 1, 1996; 10(2): 119 - 125.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Neurorehabil Neural RepairHome page
D. A. Drubach, G. Zeilig, J. Perez, L. Peralta, and M. Makley
Treatment of Abulia with Carbidopa/Levodopa
Neurorehabil Neural Repair, January 1, 1995; 9(3): 151 - 155.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J Geriatr Psychiatry NeurolHome page
K. Kawabata, H. Tachibana, and M. Sugita
Cerebral Blood Flow and Dementia in Parkinson's Disease
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, October 1, 1991; 4(4): 194 - 203.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J PsychopharmacolHome page
S. D. Iversen
Is it possible to model psychotic states in animals?
J Psychopharmacol, January 1, 1987; 1(3): 154 - 176.
[PDF]


Home page
Arch NeurolHome page
R. M. Torack and J. C. Morris
Mesolimbocortical Dementia: A Clinicopathologic Case Study of a Putative Disorder
Arch Neurol, October 1, 1986; 43(10): 1074 - 1078.
[Abstract] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All ASPET Journals Molecular Pharmacology Pharmacological Reviews
 Molecular Interventions Drug Metabolism and Disposition