About: Apomorphine is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 6120 publications have been published within this topic receiving 222098 citations. The topic is also known as: Apokyn® & Ixense®.
TL;DR: It has been shown that buprenorphine is a partial agonist of the mu type which both suppressed and precipitated abstinence in the morphine-dependent dog while morphine and propoxyphene are stronger agonists.
Abstract: Three different syndromes produced by congeners of morphine have been identified in the nondependent chronic spinal dog. These syndromes have been attributed to interaction of agonists with three distinguishable receptors (mu, kappa and sigma). Morphine is the prototype agonist for the mu receptor, ketocyclazocine for the kappa receptor and SKF-10,047 for the sigma receptor. The morphine syndrome (mu) in the dog is characterized by miosis, bradycardia, hypothermia, a general depression of the nociceptive responses and indifference to environmental stimuli. Ketocyclazocine (kappa) constricts pupils, depresses the flexor reflex and produces sedation but does not markedly alter pulse rate or the skin twitch reflex. SKF-10,047 (sigma), in contrast to morphine and ketocyclazocine, causes mydriasis, tachypnea, tachycardia and mania. The effects of these three drugs can be antagonized by the pure antagonist naltrexone, indicating that they are agonists. Further, chronic administration of morphine, ketocyclazocine and SKF-10,047 induces tolerance to their agonistic effects. Morphine suppresses abstinence in morphine-dependent dogs while ketocyclazocine does not. Ketocyclazocine at best precipitated only a liminal abstinence syndrome in the morphine-dependent dog, indicating that it had little affinity for the morphine receptor. Ketocyclazocine thus appears to be a selective agonist at the kappa receptor. Further, it has been shown that buprenorphine is a partial agonist of the mu type which both suppressed and precipitated abstinence in the morphine-dependent dog while morphine and propoxyphene are stronger agonists. Apomorphine and SKF-10,047 produce similar pharmacologic effects suggesting that sigma activity may involve a dopaminergic mechanism.
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of L-DOPA and the dopamine receptor stimulating drug apomorphine was studied in rats after unilateral degeneration of the nigrostriatal DA system by intracerebral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine.
Abstract: The effect of L-DOPA and the dopamine (DA) receptor stimulating drug apomorphine was studied in rats after unilateral degeneration of the nigrostriatal DA system by intracerebral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. Both apomorphine and L-DOPA induced a strong rotational behaviour which was registered in a specially designed “rotameter”. The direction of the rotation indicated that the denervated striatum was more sensitive to DA receptor stimulating drugs than the innervated striatum. This supersensitivity probably corresponded to the decentralisation type of supersensitivity in the peripheral nervous system although it developed faster. The action of L-DOPA was inhibited by pretreatment with the DOPA-decarboxylase inhibitor Ro4–4602 which indicated that L-DOPA must be converted to DA in order to stimulate the supersensitive postsynaptic cells. Pretreatment with a single dose of reserpine also induced supersentitivity to apomorphine which reached its maximum on the 3rd day and then decreased on the 4th day. Postsynaptic supersensitivity after degeneration of the nigro-striatal DA system is probably an important reason for the effectiveness of the L-DOPA therapy against Parkinson's disease.
TL;DR: Evidence is provided that dopamine plays an important role in a specific cortical function in rhesus monkeys and that this role can be pharmacologically reversed with dopamine agonists.
Abstract: Depletion of dopamine in a circumscribed area of association cortex in rhesus monkeys produces an impairment in spatial delayed alternation performance nearly as severe as that caused by surgical ablation of the same area. This behavioral deficit can be pharmacologically reversed with dopamine agonists such as L-dopa and apomorphine. These data provide direct evidence that dopamine plays an important role in a specific cortical function.
TL;DR: The results suggest that dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase may be the receptor for dopamine in mammalian brain and should facilitate the search for new therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of extrapyramidal diseases.
Abstract: An adenylate cyclase that is activated specifically by low concentrations of dopamine has been demonstrated in homogenates of caudate nucleus of rat brain. A half-maximal increase in the activity of the enzyme occurred in the presence of 4 μM dopamine. Concentrations of dopamine as low as 0.3 μM stimulated the activity of the enzyme. The adenylate cyclase activity of the homogenates was also stimulated by low concentrations of apomorphine, a substance known to mimic the physiological and pharmacological effects of dopamine. The stimulatory effect of dopamine was blocked by low concentrations of either haloperidol or chlorpromazine, agents known to block the actions of dopamine in mammalian brain. The results suggest that dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase may be the receptor for dopamine in mammalian brain. The isolation of this enzyme from caudate nucleus should facilitate the search for new therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of extrapyramidal diseases.
TL;DR: In vivo evidence is provided for substantial release of endogenous dopamine in the striatum of PD patients in response to placebo, indicating that the placebo effect in PD is powerful and is mediated through activation of the damaged nigrostriatal dopamine system.
Abstract: The power of placebos has long been recognized for improving numerous medical conditions such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Little is known, however, about the mechanism underlying the placebo effect. Using the ability of endogenous dopamine to compete for [11C]raclopride binding as measured by positron emission tomography, we provide in vivo evidence for substantial release of endogenous dopamine in the striatum of PD patients in response to placebo. Our findings indicate that the placebo effect in PD is powerful and is mediated through activation of the damaged nigrostriatal dopamine system.