17β Estradiol-induced increase in brain dopamine D-2 receptor: Antagonism by MIF-1

Animal behavioral and neurochemical studies implicate dopaminergic systems in the neurological sequelae induced by estrogen. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that MIF-1, a neuropeptide unrelated to classical dopamine agonists, when given prior to, concurrently with, and after 17 beta-estradiol, antagonized significantly the estrogen-induced increase in the density of dopamine D-2 receptor both in the striatum and the mesolimbic area of male rat brain. The current findings have implications for the prophylactic and therapeutic potential for MIF-1 in extrapyramidal motor disorders caused by estrogen imbalance in humans.