Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:460-464
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Dopamine receptors, neuroleptics, and schizophrenia
SH Snyder
The antipsychotic effects of neuroleptic drugs are mediated by dopamine
DA-2 receptors, and dopamine DA-1 receptors, linked to cyclic AMP
formation, are not involved. Dopamine receptor binding is enhanced in brain
specimens of deceased schizophrenic patients, an increase which may relate
to chronic neuroleptic treatment. The binding of 3H- butyrophenones to
dopamine receptors can be used for a radioreceptor assay that detects blood
levels of all clinically used neuroleptics and their pharmacologically
active metabolites and may facilitate routine monitoring of blood levels.
