Functional Uncoupling of Adenosine A2A Receptors and Reduced Response to Caffeine in Dopamine D2 Receptor-Deficient Mice.

ZAHNISER NR, SIMOSKY JK, MAYFIELD RD, NEGRI CA, HANANIA TG, LARSON GA, KELLY MA, RUBINSTEIN M, GRANDY DK, LOW MJ, FREDHOLM BB

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE

SOC NEUROSCIENCE

Lugar: Washington; Año: 2000 vol. 20 p. 5949 - 5957

0270-6474

Dopamine D(2) receptors (Rs) and adenosine A(2A)Rs are coexpressed on striatopallidal neurons, where they mediate opposing actions. In agreement with the idea that D(2)Rs tonically inhibit GABA release from these neurons, stimulation-evoked GABA release was significantly greater from striatal/pallidal slices from D(2)R null mutant (D(2)R(-/-)) than from wild-type (D(2)R(+/+)) mice. Release from heterozygous (D(2)R(+/-)) slices was intermediate. However, contrary to predictions that A(2A)R effects would be enhanced in D(2)R-deficient mice, the A(2A)R agonist CGS 21680 significantly increased GABA release only from D(2)R(+/+) slices. CGS 21680 modulation was observed when D(2)Rs were antagonized by raclopride, suggesting that an acute absence of D(2)Rs cannot explain the results. The lack of CGS 21680 modulation in the D(2)R-deficient mice was also not caused by a compensatory downregulation of A(2A)Rs in the striatum or globus pallidus. However, CGS 21680 significantly stimulated cAMP production only in D(2)R(+/+) striatal/pallidal slices. This functional uncoupling of A(2A)Rs in the D(2)R-deficient mice was not explained by reduced expression of G(s), G(olf), or type VI adenylyl cyclase. Locomotor activity induced by the adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine was significantly less pronounced in D(2)R(-/-) mice than in D(2)R(+/+) and D(2)R(+/-) mice, further supporting the idea that D(2)Rs are required for caffeine activation. Caffeine increased c-fos only in D(2)R(-/-) globus pallidus. The present results show that a targeted disruption of the D(2)R reduces coupling of A(2A)Rs on striatopallidal neurons and thereby responses to drugs that act on adenosine receptors. They also reinforce the ideas that D(2)Rs and A(2A)Rs are functionally opposed and that D(2)R-mediated effects normally predominate.