Properties

Safety Information

Description

(-)-Quinpirole hydrochloride is an ergoline small molecule selective agonist of D₂-like dopamine receptors. The D₂-like class includes the D2DR, D3DR and D4DR (D2, D3, and D4 dopamine receptors), and structural similarity of each of these receptor subtypes limits agonist selectivity to the D₂-like receptors as a group. Research of conditions of dopamine deficiency such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease is usually directed at the D₂-like dopamine receptors, and (-)-Quinpirole has been employed along with other D₂-like agonists in perturbing and elucidating the chemical landscape beneath these conditions. (-)-Quinpirole demonstrates a neuroprotective effect against glutamate excitotoxicity through D₂ receptor agonism, protecting cells from calcium influx, nitric oxide introduction and peroxynitrile generation, all thought to be mediators of glutamate excitotoxicity. The degeneration of dopaminergic neurons by oxygen free radical species is implicated in the progression of Parkinson's disease, and stimulation of D₂ receptors by (-)-Quinpirole demonstrated protection against and scavenging of the harmful radicals - this activity was blocked by both a D₂ receptor antagonist and a protein synthesis inhibitor, indicating that stimulation of the D₂ receptor signals the dopaminergic cell to produce radical-scavenging proteins for protection.