Function and regulation of the D3 dopamine receptor

Abstract A few neuronal cell types expressing the D 3 receptor were identified: DA neurons in the lateral substantia nigra, neurotensin-containing neurons in the shell part of nucleus accumbens, cholinergic granule cells in islands of Calleja and Purkinje cells in archicerebellum. In the transfected NG 108-15 cell line, the D 3 receptor induced mitogenesis and c-fos immunoreactivity through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein. 6-OHDA lesions decreased D 3 receptor expression in nucleus accumbens, whereas chronic haloperidol treatment remained without effect. Thus the D 3 receptor differes from the D 2 receptor in its modes of activation and regulation.