Applications of the neonatal quinpirole model to psychosis and convergence upon the dopamine D2 receptor

Abstract

This mini review focuses on the importance of the dopamine D2-like receptor family and its importance in psychosis. Past findings from this laboratory along with collaborators have been that neonatal quinpirole (a dopamine D2-like receptor agonist) results in increases in dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity that persists throughout the animal’s lifetime. Findings from this model have been shown to have particular application and validity to schizophrenia, but may have broader implications toward other psychoses, which is reviewed in the present manuscript. In the present review, we also highlight other models of psychoses that have been centered on the subchronic administration of quinpirole to rats in order to model certain psychoses, which has uncovered some interesting and valid behavioral findings. This review highlights the importance of the combination of behavioral findings and neurobiological mechanisms focusing on neural plasticity in discovering underlying pathologies in these disorders that may lead to treatment discoveries, as well as the value of animal models across all psychoses.