Chronic amphetamine administration decreases D2 dopamine receptor immunostaining in the lateral habenular nucleus

The effect of chronic amphetamine administration on the expression of D2 dopamine receptor was immunohistochemically analyzed in the caudate-putamen and the lateral habenular nucleus, which are important links of the dorsal diencephalic conduction system. Significant decrease in the numbers of immunopositive neural cells was observed in both regions, suggesting that chronically administered amphetamine alters D2 dopamine receptor function in the dorsal diencephalic conduction system. This could be involved in the development of schizophrenia, stereotypies, and neural impairment in psychostimulant abusers.