Selective influence of ergot alkaloids on cortical and striatal dopaminergic and sergotonergic receptors.

The ergot alkaloids studied do exert selective effects on monoamine receptor systems. Lisuride acts as a very potent stimulator of adenylate cyclase in cortical brain regions, and may function as a mixed agonist-antagonist at high concentrations. It is most likely that in cortex, lisuride effects both dopamine and serotonin receptors, but predominantly serotonin receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase. The antagonist molindone exhibits …