The interaction between dopamine D2‐like and beta‐adrenergic receptors in the prefrontal cortex is altered by mood‐stabilizing agents

Abstract Several studies have suggested the involvement of biogenic monoaminergic neurotransmission in bipolar disorder and in the therapy for this disease. In this study, the effects of the mood‐stabilizing drugs lithium, carbamazepine or valproate on the dopaminergic and adrenergic systems, particularly on D 2 ‐like and β‐adrenergic receptors, were studied both in cultured rat cortical neurones and in rat prefrontal cortex. In vitro and in vivo data showed that stimulation of β‐adrenergic receptors with isoproterenol increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and this effect was significantly inhibited by lithium, carbamazepine or valproate. The activation of dopamine D 2 ‐like receptors with quinpirole decreased the isoproterenol‐induced rise in cAMP in control conditions. This inhibition was observed in vivo after chronic treatment of the rats with carbamazepine or valproate, but not after treatment with lithium or in cultured rat cortical neurones after 48 h exposure to the three mood stabilizers. Dopamine D 2 and β 1 ‐adrenergic receptors were found to be co‐localized in prefrontal cortical cells, as determined by immunohistochemistry, but western blot experiments revealed that receptor levels were differentially affected by treatment with the three mood stabilizers. These data show that mood stabilizers affect D 2 receptor‐mediated regulation of β‐adrenergic signalling and that each drug acts by a unique mechanism.