Figure 2.

Expression of mRNA of D₁ and D₂ receptors in the prefrontal cortex and striatum of saline-, simvastatin- and pravastatin-treated rats. RT–PCR showed that simvastatin (sim, 30 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), but not pravastatin (pra, 30 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), increased D₁ and D₂ receptor mRNA expression by 1.6- and 2.2-fold, respectively, in the prefrontal cortex when compared to the saline-treated control (C) group. No changes were observed in the striatum. Graphs showed band intensity relative to the corresponding β-actin band. Error bars represent s.e.m., n=6 per group. One-way ANOVA: F(2,27)=6.641, P<0.005 for D₁ and F(2,15)=21.460, P<0.001 for D₂ in the prefrontal cortex. ^**P<0.01 by post hoc analysis with Bonferroni correction. Top panel shows typical bands of β-actin, D₁ and D₂ receptors in the same order (left to right) as presented in the graph.