Haloperidol illustrate a high affinity for the D2 family of dopamine receptors and it is at these sites that they are thought to exert their therapeutic action.
Because D2 dopamine receptors are present not only on the post-synaptic membrane, but on the cell bodies, dendrites and nerve terminals of presynaptic cells as well, antipsychotic compounds can interfere with dopaminergic neurotransmission at various sites in both the pre- and postsynaptic cell.
Haloperidol illustrate a high affinity for the D2 family of dopamine receptors and it is at these sites that they are thought to exert their therapeutic action.
Because D2 dopamine receptors are present not only on the post-synaptic membrane, but on the cell bodies, dendrites and nerve terminals of presynaptic cells as well, antipsychotic compounds can interfere with dopaminergic neurotransmission at various sites in both the pre- and postsynaptic cell.
In my long experience with psychoactive I find that these agents affect many neuron systems directly or indirectly. The brain can seen as functioning as a balance between neuron pathways which is individually specific. Nicotinic receptors exist on many presynaptic neurons, DA, 5-HT etc. Nicotine can affect the balance by either inhibiting or exciting these pre-synaptic neurons. Because DA neuron systems affect may other neurons and affected by other systems the common end pathway not be exclusively DA. Our research with DA- or 5-HT-depleted rats did not always give us an exclusive expected mechanism for drugs as cocaine or LSD. See some our papers with Dan Minema.
Haloperidol or any other antipsychotic has effects on multiple neurotransmission systems, not only in DA. I strongly agree with John Rosecrans.
Me too. It binds to NMDA receptors, sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors, and many others.
If you see the receptor profile of anti-psychotics whether 1st(that haloperidol belongs to) or 2nd generation, you will find that dopaminergic effect is just one of their wide and multiple effects in CNS. Cholinergic, histaminergic, serotonergic and glutamatergic effects all are involved in therapeutic and adverse effects of anti-psychotics. However, among anti-psychotics holoperidol has the greatest affinity for D2 receptors in the CNS that culminates its vexing extra pyramidal side effects.
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