Dopamine receptors and locomotor responses: Molecular aspects

The responses obtained with drugs acting as dopamine receptors depend on the spectrum of receptors activated and the neuronal signal transduction pathways that are activated. Drugs that reliably discriminate among the various cloned dopamine receptors are not yet available. Therefore, elucidating the role of these receptors has largely relied on molecular genetic approaches, including heterologous receptor expression in cell lines and manipulation of receptor expression in animal models. The current understanding of the molecular, cellular and systemic consequences of dopaminergic activation of the different cloned dopamine receptors is reviewed.