Time-Course of [$^3H$]Spiperone Binding and Dopamine Metabolism in the Rat Striatum after Withdrawal from Haloperidol Ttreatment

Haloperidol 투여후 금단기간에 따른 백서 선조체의 [$^3H$]Spiperone 결합 및 Dopamine 대사물질의 변화

The effects of 3 week treatment with haloperidol(2mg/kg/day, i.p.) on dopamine(DA) D2 receptor and DA metabolism in rat striata were studied at various time points after withdrawal from the drug treatment. Striatal DA D2 receptors were characterized with the radioligand 0.5nM [$^3H$]Spiperone. Dopamine(DA), homovanillic acid(HVA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid(DOPAC) in rat striatum were measured with the high performance liquid chromatography. Drug withdrawal for 1 week induced significant increase in the number of D2 receptor in striatum after withdrawal for 1 week(p<0.05), and then this change was restored to control level during the withdrawal time of 2 and 4 weeks. There was no difference in striatal concentrations of DA and its metabolites among the groups. In conclusion, one-week withdrawal from chronic haloperidol treatment induced DA D2 receptor supersensitivity in the striatum, and that was normalized rapidly. Though this adaptive change in DA receptors, it may not affect the metabolism of DA in striatum.