Cabergoline

Cabergoline is an ergot derived-dopamine D₂-like receptor agonist that has high affinity for D₂, D₃, and 5-HT_2B receptors (K_i=0.7, 1.5, and 1.2, respectively). IC50 & Target:Ki: 0.7 (Dopamine D₂ receptor), 1.5 (Dopamine D₃ receptor), 1.2 (5-HT_2B receptor)^[1] In Vitro:Cabergoline acts as a potent agonist of D₂, D₃ and 5-HT_2B receptors. Pretreatment with Cabergoline inhibits H₂O₂-induced neuronal cell death in a dose-dependent manner. In the following experiments, 10 μM of Cabergoline is used to investigate its neuroprotective effects. MAP2 staining reveals that Cabergoline significantly suppresses the loss of neurons caused by H₂O₂ incubation. The detection of apoptotic nuclear condensation suggested that Cabergoline prevents apoptotic cell death following H₂O₂ exposure^[1]. In Vivo:The most significant reduction in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep bout number occurred during the light phase, in which Cabergoline-injected female handled mice has 67.3% less REM sleep bouts (F_(1,11)=12.892, P=0.004), although the greatest number in reduction of REM sleep bouts occurr during the dark phase (82.3% fewer REM sleep bouts; F_(1,11)=3.667, P=0.082). In male mice, Cabergoline reduces baseline Prolactin (PRL) levels (98.5%; F_(1,6)=13.192, P=0.011) from 5.8±1.3 to 0.08 ng/mL within 2 hours of injection. After a 7-day recovery period, PRL levels return to values that are not different from baseline (5.0±0.60 ng/mL; F_(1,6)=0.715, P=0.43)^[2].