Dopamine receptor

The dopamine receptors are a class of metabotropic G-protein-coupled receptors with the neurotransmitter dopamine as their endogenous ligand.

Dopamine receptor types
There are 5 major types of dopamine receptors. All are G-protein coupled metabotropic receptors, and can be excitatory or inhibitory to the post-synaptic neuron. The D1 and D5 receptors are members of the D1-like family of dopamine receptors whereas the D2, D3 and D4 receptors are members of the D2-like family. Activation of the D1-like family receptors is coupled to increases in cAMP and is typically excitatory, while D2-like activation reduces cAMP and is typically inhibitory.

In schizophrenics, D2 receptors have been found to exist in higher than normal levels, and antipsychotic drugs aim to block these.