Modulation of dopamine metabolism in the retina via dopamine D₂ receptors

When rats are placed in a lighted environment from the dark retinal DOPAC increases. There is no significant change of retinal dopamine (DA) under either lighting condition. Blockade of aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase results in a more rapid accumulation of DOPA in the retina of animals in the light than in the dark implying that DA synthesis and metabolism are more rapid in the light than in the dark. Retinal DOPAC increases in the dark and in the light when rats are treated with the DA D₂ antagonists sulpiride and spiperone. Treatment with the D₂ agonist, quinpirole, lowers the content of DA in the retina of rats kept in the dark or exposed to light. D₁ receptor drugs induce only limited changes in DA metabolism. We conclude that D₂ receptors play a principal role for modulating DA synthesis and metabolism in the rat retina.