pKi: 8.05±0.2 (dopamine D2 receptor)

Bromocriptine stimulates [ ³⁵ S]-GTPγS binding at D2 dopamine receptor expressed in CHO cells with pEC ₅₀ of 8.15±0.05. Bromocriptine also is a strong inhibitor of brain nitric oxide synthase. The ergot alkaloid Bromocriptine (BKT) is found to act as a strong inhibitor of purified neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (IC ₅₀ =10±2 μM) whereas it is poorly active towards inducible macrophage NOS (IC ₅₀ >100 μM) . Bromocriptine is found to inhibit the activity of at least one human cytochrome P450 enzyme. Bromocriptine is a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4 with a calculated IC ₅₀ value for the interaction of 1.69 μM.

Bromocriptine mesylate (2 mg/kg, i.p.) is administered for 7 days in groups of mice in forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Bromocriptine group shows significant anti-immobility action as compared to control. When Bromocriptine administered 30 min after the last dose of 7 days MPE treatment and subjected to FST, this dopaminergic agonist produces significant and dose dependent potentiation of anti-immobility action of MPE (200 mg/kg, p.o.) as compared to MPE treatment alone. Bromocriptine treatment group shows a significant reduction of immobility time as compared to control. Bromocriptine administration after 7 days pretreatment with MPE (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) shows significant and dose dependent potentiation of anti-immobility action of MPE as compared to MPE treatment alone. Intracisternal administration of Bromocriptine decreases significantly the static mechanical allodynia (SMA) score compared to that of sham (saline-injected rats) and its effect lasted for 30 min. Intraperitoneal administration of Bromocriptine induces a significant, dose dependent (0.1 mg and 1 mg/kg) decrease in pain scores in CCI-IoN group when compared to sham and its effect lasted for 6 h. The highest dose induces the highest score decrease (P<0.01). Bromocriptine effect lasts for 20 min. Intraperitoneal administration of Bromocriptine induces a significant dose dependent decrease in SMA score in CCI-IoN+6-OHDA lesioned group compared to that of sham. Its effect lasts for 6 h.