Dopamine D1 and D5 receptors are prototypical cell-surface seven-transmembrane (TM) G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediating elevation of intracellular cAMP levels. The high level of constitutive activity of D5 receptor mediating intracellular cAMP production is one of the functional hallmarks distinguishing the closely related D1-like dopaminergic subtypes (D1 and D5). D1-like subtypes share over 80% identity within their TM regions. Thus, D1 and D5 receptors can serve as unparalleled and useful molecular tools to gain structural and mechanistic insights into subtype-specific determinants regulating GPCR constitutive activation and inverse agonism. A method has been developed that relies on the use of transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells with wild-type (WT), epitope-tagged, chimeric, truncated, and mutant forms of mammalian D1 and D5 receptors using a modified DNA and calcium phosphate precipitation procedure. Receptor expression levels are quantified by a radioligand binding using [(3)H]-SCH23390, a D1-like selective drug. Regulation of ligand-independent and dependent activity of WT and mutated D1 and D5 receptors is determined by whole cell cAMP assays using metabolic [(3)H]-adenine labeling and sequential purification radiolabeled nucleotides over Dowex and alumina resin columns. Results on the regulation of D1 and D5 constitutive activity are presented here. Our studies indicate that dopamine-mediated D5 receptor stimulation in a dose-dependent manner is not always detectable, suggesting that D5 receptors can exist in a "locked" constitutively activated state. This "locked" constitutively active state of D5 receptor is not linked to aberrant high receptor expression levels or cell behavior, as D1 receptor function remains essentially unchanged in these cells. In fact, we show that phorbol ester treatment of cells harboring "locked" constitutively active D5 receptors abrogates constitutive activation of D5R to allow its stimulation by dopamine in a dose-dependent manner.

Functional studies indicate that the dopamine D5 receptor is involved in synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. However, previous anatomical studies have detected D5 receptor labelling primarily on the soma and main dendrites of CA1 pyramidal cells and on dendritic spines in monkey but not in rats. In order to get a better understanding of putative dopamine function in the hippocampus, we quantified the D5 receptor immunoreactivity on the pyramidal cell somas and on spines and dendrites in stratum radiatum and stratum oriens in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats by quantitative immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy. The quantitative immunogold results revealed a higher labelling density on dendritic spines, notably at their synaptic membranes, compared to pyramidal cell somas and dendrites. Hence, dopamine could have effects on spines as well as on somas and dendrites. The labelling density was similar on spines in stratum oriens and stratum radiatum, but the presence of labelling varied between the spines within each stratum, indicating that the effect of dopamine could be diverse between different spines.

The γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) plays a major role in fast inhibitory synaptic transmission and is highly regulated by the neuromodulator dopamine. In this aspect, most of the attention has been focused on the classical intracellular signaling cascades following dopamine G-protein-coupled receptor activation. Interestingly, the GABAAR and dopamine D5 receptor (D5R) have been shown to physically interact in the hippocampus, but whether a functional cross-talk occurs is still debated. In the present study, we use a combination of imaging and single nanoparticle tracking in live hippocampal neurons to provide evidence that GABAARs and D5Rs form dynamic surface clusters. Disrupting the GABAAR-D5R interaction with a competing peptide leads to an increase in the diffusion coefficient and the explored area of both receptors, and a drop in immobile synaptic GABAARs. By means of patch-clamp recordings, we show that this fast lateral redistribution of surface GABAARs correlates with a robust depression in the evoked GABAergic currents. Strikingly, it also shifts in time the expression of long-term potentiation at glutamatergic synapses. Together, our data both set the plasma membrane as the primary stage of a functional interplay between GABAAR and D5R, and uncover a non-canonical role in regulating synaptic transmission.

Dopamine is known to play an important role in the pathophysiological process of myopia development relevant to the ambient lighting, but it is still poorly understood about how lighting regulates dopamine and its interaction with dopamine receptors to mediate the pathogenic signal transduction leading to alterations of ocular globe and the pathogenesis of myopia. Many studies have highlighted changes of ocular dopamine amount in response to different lighting conditions, but little attention has been paid to the dopamine receptors during these processes. Here we examined the effects of different lighting exposures on the expression of dopamine receptors in rat R28 retinal precursor cells. R28 cells normally grown in dark were exposed to a low (10 lux) or high (500 lux) intensity of a source of LED white light (5000 K-6000 K) for 12 h and total RNA was isolated either immediately or after certain time continuous growing in dark. Both conventional and real-time RT-PCR were performed to determine the expression of all five different dopamine receptors in cells after treatments. While the transcripts of dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptors were not detected in the total RNA preparations of all the cells, those of D1 and D5 receptors (DRD1 and DRD5) were induced by lighting in contrast to the dark control. Elevated levels of DRD1 and DRD5 mRNA returned back close to the original levels once the cells were maintained in dark after light exposures. Immunofluorescence microscopy using a specific antibody confirmed an increase in the immunoreactivity of DRD1 in the cells exposed to 500 lux lighting versus dark control. Notably, treatments of R28 cells with nanomolar dosages of dopamine (0-500 nM) directly downregulated expression of both DRD1 and DRD5, whereas haloperidol (0-50 nM), a DRD2 antagonist, significantly induced expression of DRD1. These results suggest that dopamine receptors in the retinal cells might actively respond to the environmental lighting to act as an important player in the activation of the dopaminergic system in the ocular structures relevant to the lighting-induced pathogenic development of myopia.

The dopamine D5 receptor (D5R) shows high expression in cortical regions, yet the role of the receptor in learning and memory remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the impact of prefrontal cortical (PFC) D5R knockdown in rats on learning and memory and assessed the role of the D5R in the regulation of neuronal oscillatory activity and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3β), processes integral to cognitive function.

Dopamine signaling in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is important for cognitive functions, yet very little is known about the expression of the D5 class of dopamine receptors (D5Rs) in this region. To address this, we co-stained for D5Rs, pyramidal neurons (neurogranin+), putative long-range projection pyramidal neurons (SMI-32+), and several classes of inhibitory interneuron (parvalbumin+, calbindin+, calretinin+, somatostatin+) within the frontal eye field (FEF): an area within the PFC involved in the control of visual spatial attention. We then quantified the co-expression of D5Rs with markers of different cell types across different layers of the FEF. We show that: (1) D5Rs are more prevalent on pyramidal neurons than on inhibitory interneurons. (2) D5Rs are disproportionately expressed on putative long-range projecting pyramidal neurons. The disproportionately high expression of D5Rs on long-range projecting pyramidals, compared to interneurons, was particularly pronounced in layers II-III. Together these results indicate that the engagement of D5R-dependent mechanisms in the FEF varies depending on cell type and cortical layer, and suggests that non-locally projecting neurons contribute disproportionately to functions involving the D5R subtype.

Corticofugal fibers target the subthalamic nucleus (STN), a component nucleus of the basal ganglia, in addition to the striatum, their main input. The cortico-subthalamic, or hyperdirect, pathway, is thought to supplement the cortico-striatal pathways in order to interrupt/change planned actions. To explore the previously unknown properties of the neurons that project to the STN, retrograde and anterograde tools were used to specifically identify them in the motor cortex and selectively stimulate their synapses in the STN. The cortico-subthalamic neurons exhibited very little sag and fired an initial doublet followed by non-adapting action potentials. In the STN, AMPA/kainate synaptic currents had a voltage-dependent conductance, indicative of GluA2-lacking receptors and were partly inhibited by Naspm. AMPA transmission displayed short-term depression, with the exception of a limited bandpass in the 5 to 15 Hz range. AMPA synaptic currents were negatively controlled by dopamine D5 receptors. The reduction in synaptic strength was due to postsynaptic D5 receptors, mediated by a PKA-dependent pathway, but did not involve a modified rectification index. Our data indicated that dopamine, through post-synaptic D5 receptors, limited the cortical drive onto STN neurons in the normal brain.

The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) has been widely related to spatial and contextual memory. However, we recently demonstrated that the anterior part of the RSC (aRSC) is required for object recognition (OR) memory consolidation. In this study, we aimed to analyze the requirement of dopaminergic inputs into the aRSC for OR memory consolidation in male rats. We observed amnesia at 24-h long-term memory when we infused SCH23390, a D1/D5 dopamine receptors antagonist, into aRSC immediately after OR training session. However, the same infusion had no effect on OR short-term memory. Then, we analyzed whether the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is necessary for OR consolidation. VTA inactivation by intra-VTA administration of muscimol, a GABAA agonist, immediately after an OR training session induced amnesia when animals were tested at 24 h. Moreover, we observed that this VTA inactivation-induced amnesia was reversed by the simultaneous intra-aRSC delivery of SKF38393, a D1/D5 receptor agonist. Altogether, our results suggest that VTA dopaminergic inputs to aRSC play an important modulatory role in OR memory consolidation.

The magnitude and persistency of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the rodent hippocampus is species-dependent: rats express more robust and more prolonged LTP in response to a broader afferent frequency range than mice. The C57Bl/6 mouse is an extremely popular murine strain used in studies of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and spatial learning. Recently it was reported that it expresses impoverished LTP compared to other murine strains. Given the important role of the dopamine D1/D5 receptor (D1/D5R) in the maintenance of LTP and in memory consolidation, we explored to what extent strain-dependent differences in LTP in mice are determined by differences in D1/D5R-control. In CaOlaHsd mice, robust LTP was induced that lasted for over 24 h and which was significantly greater in magnitude than LTP induced in C57Bl/6 mice. Intracerebral treatment with a D1/D5R-antagonist (SCH23390) prevented both the early and late phase of LTP in CaOlaHsd mice, whereas only late-LTP was impaired in C57Bl/6 mice. Treatment with a D1/D5R-agonist (Chloro-PB) facilitated short-term potentiation (STP) into LTP (> 24 h) in both strains, whereby effects became evident earlier in CaOlaHsd compared to C57Bl/6 mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significantly higher expression of D1-receptors in the stratum lacunosum moleculare of CaOlaHsd compared to C57Bl/6 mice. These findings highlight differences in D1/D5R- dependent regulation of strain-dependent variations in hippocampal LTP in C57Bl/6 and CaOlaHsd mice, that may be mediated, in part, by differences in the expression of D1R in the hippocampus.

Dopamine contributes to the regulation of higher order information processing and executive control. It is important for memory consolidation processes, and for the adaptation of learned responses based on experience. In line with this, under aversive learning conditions, application of dopamine receptor antagonists prior to extinction result in enhanced memory reinstatement. Here, we investigated the contribution of the dopaminergic system to extinction and memory reinstatement (renewal) of an appetitive spatial learning task in rodents. Rats were trained for 3 days in a T-maze (context "A") to associate a goal arm with a food reward, despite low reward probability (acquisition phase). On day 4, extinction learning (unrewarded) occurred, that was reinforced by a context change ("B"). On day 5, re-exposure to the (unrewarded) "A" context took place (renewal of context "A", followed by extinction of context "A"). In control animals, significant extinction occurred on day 4, that was followed by an initial memory reinstatement (renewal) on day 5, that was, in turn, succeeded by extinction of renewal. Intracerebral treatment with a D1/D5-receptor antagonist prior to the extinction trials, elicited a potent enhancement of extinction in context "B". By contrast, a D1/D5-agonist impaired renewal in context "A". Extinction in the "A" context on day 5 was unaffected by the D1/D5-ligands. Treatment with a D2-receptor antagonist prior to extinction had no overall effect on extinction in context "B" or renewal in context "A", although extinction of the renewal effect was impaired on day 5, compared to controls. Taken together, these data suggest that dopamine acting on the D1/D5-receptor modulates both acquisition and consolidation of context-dependent extinction. By contrast, the D2-receptor may contribute to context-independent aspects of this kind of extinction learning.

Major psychiatric disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia are often accompanied by elevated impulsivity. However, anti-impulsive drug treatments are still limited. To explore a novel molecular target, we examined the role of dopamine D5 receptors in impulse control using mice that completely lack D5 receptors (D5KO mice). We also measured spontaneous activity and learning/memory ability because these deficits could confound the assessment of impulsivity. We found small but significant effects of D5 receptor knockout on home cage activity only at specific times of the day. In addition, an analysis using the q-learning model revealed that D5KO mice displayed lower behavioral adjustment after impulsive actions. However, our results also showed that baseline impulsive actions and the effects of an anti-impulsive drug in D5KO mice were comparable to those in wild-type littermates. Moreover, unlike previous studies that used other D5 receptor-deficient mouse lines, we did not observe reductions in locomotor activity, working memory deficits, or severe learning deficits in our line of D5KO mice. These findings demonstrate that D5 receptors are dispensable for impulse control. Our results also indicate that time series analysis and detailed analysis of the learning process are necessary to clarify the behavioral functions of D5 receptors.

Dopaminergic fibers originating from area A11 of the hypothalamus project to different levels of the spinal cord and represent the major source of dopamine. In addition, tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of catecholamines, is expressed in 8-10% of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, suggesting that dopamine may be released in the dorsal root ganglia. Dopamine has been shown to modulate calcium current in DRG neurons, but the effects of dopamine on sodium current and on the firing properties of small DRG neurons are poorly understood.

Dopamine regulates the psychomotor stimulant activities of amphetamine-like substances in the brain. The effects of dopamine are mediated through five known dopamine receptor subtypes in mammals. The functional relevance of D5 dopamine receptors in the central nervous system is not well understood. To determine the functional relevance of D5 dopamine receptors, we created D5 dopamine receptor-deficient mice and then used these mice to assess the roles of D5 dopamine receptors in the behavioral response to methamphetamine. Interestingly, D5 dopamine receptor-deficient mice displayed increased ambulation in response to methamphetamine. Furthermore, dopamine transporter threonine phosphorylation levels, which regulate amphetamine-induced dopamine release, were elevated in D5 dopamine receptor-deficient mice. The increase in methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity was eliminated by pretreatment with the dopamine transporter blocker GBR12909. Taken together, these results suggest that dopamine transporter activity and threonine phosphorylation levels are regulated by D5 dopamine receptors.

Renal dopamine D1-like receptors (D1R and D5R) and the gastrin receptor (CCKBR) are involved in the maintenance of sodium homeostasis. The D1R has been found to interact synergistically with CCKBR in renal proximal tubule (RPT) cells to promote natriuresis and diuresis. D5R, which has a higher affinity for dopamine than D1R, has some constitutive activity. Hence, we sought to investigate the interaction between D5R and CCKBR in the regulation of renal sodium excretion. In present study, we found D5R and CCKBR increase each other's expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in the HK-2 cell, the specificity of which was verified in HEK293 cells heterologously expressing both human D5R and CCKBR and in RPT cells from a male normotensive human. The specificity of D5R in the D5R and CCKBR interaction was verified further using a selective D5R antagonist, LE-PM436. Also, D5R and CCKBR colocalize and co-immunoprecipitate in BALB/c mouse RPTs and human RPT cells. CCKBR protein expression in plasma membrane-enriched fractions of renal cortex (PMFs) is greater in D5R-/- mice than D5R+/+ littermates and D5R protein expression in PMFs is also greater in CCKBR-/- mice than CCKBR+/+ littermates. High salt diet, relative to normal salt diet, increased the expression of CCKBR and D5R proteins in PMFs. Disruption of CCKBR in mice caused hypertension and decreased sodium excretion. The natriuresis in salt-loaded BALB/c mice was decreased by YF476, a CCKBR antagonist and Sch23390, a D1R/D5R antagonist. Furthermore, the natriuresis caused by gastrin was blocked by Sch23390 while the natriuresis caused by fenoldopam, a D1R/D5R agonist, was blocked by YF476. Taken together, our findings indicate that CCKBR and D5R synergistically interact in the kidney, which may contribute to the maintenance of normal sodium balance following an increase in sodium intake.

Cholinergic interneurons have been implicated in striatally mediated associative learning. In classical conditioning paradigms, conditioned stimuli trigger a transient suppression of neuronal activity that is dependent upon an intact dopaminergic innervation. Our hypothesis was that this suppression reflected dopaminergic enhancement of sensory-linked GABAergic input. As a test, the impact of dopamine on interneuronal GABA(A) receptor function was studied by combined patch-clamp recording and single-cell reverse transcription PCR. Activation of D5 dopamine receptors reversibly enhanced a Zn2+-sensitive component of GABA(A) currents. Although dependent upon protein kinase A (PKA) activation, the modulation was blocked by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) inhibition, suggesting it was dependent upon dephosphorylation. These results establish a novel mechanism by which intrastriatally released dopamine mediates changes in GABAergic signaling that could underlie the initial stages of associative learning.

Dopamine can regulate signal generation and transmission by activating multiple receptors and signaling cascades, especially in striatum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. Dopamine modulates an even larger variety of cellular properties in retina, yet has been reported to do so by only D1 receptor-driven cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) increases or D2 receptor-driven cAMP decreases. Here, we test the possibility that dopamine operates differently on retinal ganglion cells, because the ganglion cell layer binds D1 and D2 receptor ligands, and displays changes in signaling components other than cAMP under illumination that should release dopamine. In adult rat retinal ganglion cells, based on patch-clamp recordings, Ca(2+) imaging, and immunohistochemistry, we find that 1) spike firing is inhibited by dopamine and SKF 83959 (an agonist that does not activate homomeric D1 receptors or alter cAMP levels in other systems); 2) D1 and D2 receptor antagonists (SCH 23390, eticlopride, raclopride) counteract these effects; 3) these antagonists also block light-induced rises in cAMP, light-induced activation of Ca(2+) /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, and dopamine-induced Ca(2+) influx; and 4) the Ca(2+) rise is markedly reduced by removing extracellular Ca(2+) and by an IP3 receptor antagonist (2-APB). These results provide the first evidence that dopamine activates a receptor in adult mammalian retinal neurons that is distinct from classical D1 and D2 receptors, and that dopamine can activate mechanisms in addition to cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase to modulate retinal ganglion cell excitability.

Pharmacological studies indicate that dopamine D1-like receptors (D1 and D5) are critically involved in cognitive function. However, the lack of pharmacological ligands selective for either the D1 or D5 receptors has made it difficult to determine the unique contributions of the D1-like family members. To circumvent these pharmacological limitations, we used D5 receptor homozygous (-/-) and heterozygous (+/-) knockout mice, to identify the specific role of this receptor in higher order cognitive functions. We identified a novel role for D5 receptors in the regulation of spatial working memory and temporal order memory function. The D5 mutant mice acquired a discrete paired-trial variable-delay T-maze task at normal rates. However, both [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mice exhibited impaired performance compared to [Formula: see text] littermates when a higher burden on working memory faculties was imposed. In a temporal order object recognition task, [Formula: see text] exhibited significant memory deficits. No D5-dependent differences in locomotor functions and interest in exploring objects were evident. Molecular biomarkers of dopaminergic functions within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) revealed a selective gene-dose effect on Akt phosphorylation at Ser473 with increased levels in [Formula: see text] knockout mice. A trend toward reduced levels in CaMKKbeta brain-specific band (64 kDa) in [Formula: see text] compared to [Formula: see text] was also evident. These findings highlight a previously unidentified role for D5 receptors in working memory function and associated molecular signatures within the PFC.

The neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) fire in response to novelty, and LC activation coupled with hippocampal afferent stimulation leads to long-term depression (LTD). The encoding of novel spatial information also involves activation of dopamine D1/D5 receptors. It is unclear if, or how, the noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems interact mechanistically in processing novelty. Novel spatial exploration when coupled with Schaffer collateral (SC) test-pulse stimulation results in short-term depression at SC-CA1 synapses, which is not observed in the absence of afferent stimulation. However, activation of D1/D5 receptors under these conditions without concomitant afferent stimulation enables slow-onset depression. LTD (>24 h) is facilitated when novel exploration occurs concurrently with low-frequency stimulation of CA1. Effects are not improved by a D1/D5 agonist. Facilitation of LTD (>4 h) by coupling LC stimulation with CA1 test-pulse stimulation was blocked by a D1/D5 antagonist, however, as was habituation to the holeboard environment. Novel spatial learning during LC stimulation did not enhance LTD further, whereas D1/D5 agonist treatment enabled LTD to persist for over 24 h. These data suggest that the regulation of hippocampal LTD by the LC is supported by D1/D5 receptors and that their contribution to information storage becomes important when the thresholds for persistent LTD have not been reached.

Protein kinases can modify the function of many proteins including ion channels. However, the role of protein kinase A in modifying nicotinic receptors in the CNS has never been investigated. We showed through whole-cell recordings of layer 1 prefrontal cortical interneurons that α7 nicotinic responses are negatively modulated by protein kinase A. Furthermore, we show that stimulation of dopamine receptors can similarly attenuate α7 nicotinic responses through the activation of protein kinase A. These results suggest how the interaction of the cholinergic and dopaminergic systems may influence neuronal excitability in the brain.

The role of the hippocampus in memory supporting associative learning between contexts and unconditioned stimuli is well documented. Hippocampal dopamine neurotransmission modulates synaptic plasticity and memory processing of fear-motivated and spatial learning tasks. Much less is known about the involvement of the hippocampus and its D1/D5 dopamine receptors in the acquisition, consolidation and expression of memories for drug-associated experiences, more particularly, in the processing of single pairing cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) training. To determine the temporal dynamics of cocaine CPP memory formation, we trained rats in a one-pairing CPP paradigm and tested them at different time intervals after conditioning. The cocaine-associated memory lasted 24 h but not 72 h. Then, we bilaterally infused the dorsal hippocampus with the GABA A receptor agonist muscimol or the D1/D5 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH 23390 at different stages to evaluate the mechanisms involved in the acquisition, consolidation or expression of cocaine CPP memory. Blockade of D1/D5 dopamine receptors at the moment of training impaired the acquisition of cocaine CPP memories, without having any effect when administered immediately or 12 h after training. The expression of cocaine CPP memory was also affected by the administration of SCH 23390 at the moment of the test. Conversely, muscimol impaired the consolidation of cocaine CPP memory only when administered 12 h post conditioning. These findings suggests that dopaminergic inputs to the dorsal hippocampus are required for the acquisition and expression of one trial cocaine-associated memory while neural activity of this structure is required for the late consolidation of these types of memories.