Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 11, 2666-2671, Copyright © 1991 by Society for Neuroscience
Dopamine D2 mechanisms in canine narcolepsy
S Nishino, J Arrigoni, D Valtier, JD Miller, C Guilleminault, WC Dement and E Mignot
Stanford Sleep Disorders Research Center, Palo Alto, California 94304.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal manifestations of
rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Using a
canine model of the disease, we found that central D2 antagonists
suppressed cataplexy, a form of REM-sleep atonia occurring in narcolepsy,
whereas this symptom was aggravated by D2 agonists. The effect on cataplexy
was stereospecific for the S(-) enantiomer of sulpiride (a D2 antagonist)
and the R(+) enantiomer of 3-PPP (a D2 agonist). There was also a
significant correlation between the in vivo pharmacological potency and in
vitro drug affinity for D2 receptors (but not for D1 and alpha 2 receptors)
among the seven central D2 antagonists tested. Selective D1 compounds were
also tested; however, the results were inconsistent because both
antagonists and agonists generally suppressed cataplexy. Our current
results demonstrate that central D2-type receptors are critically involved
in the control of cataplexy and REM sleep. Furthermore, the finding that
small doses of D2 antagonists suppressed cataplexy and induced behavioral
excitation, while small doses of D2 agonists aggravated cataplexy and
induced sedation, suggests that this effect is mediated presynaptically.
However, considering the fact that selective dopamine reuptake inhibitors
did not modify cataplexy and that our previous pharmacological results
demonstrated a preferential involvement of the noradrenergic system in the
control of cataplexy, we believe that the effect of D2 compounds on
cataplexy is mediated secondarily via the noradrenergic systems.