Autoradiographic localization of nicotinic receptor binding in rat brain using (/sup 3/H)methylcarbamylcholine, a novel radioligand

Journal Article · Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Life Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(87)90432-2· OSTI ID:5726745

Yamada, S; Gehlert, D R; Hawkins, K N; Nakayama, K; Roeske, W R; Yamamura, H I

Light microscopic autoradiography was used to visualize the neuroanatomical distribution of nicotinic receptors in rat brain using a novel radioligand, (/sup 3/H)methylcarbamylcholine (MCC). Specific (/sup 3/H)MCC binding to slide-mounted tissue sections of rat brain was saturable, reversible and of high affinity. Data analysis revealed a single population of (/sup 3/H)MCC binding sites with a K/sub d/ value or 1.8 nM and B/sub max/ of 20.1 fmol/mg protein. Nicotinic agonists and antagonists competed for (/sup 3/H)MCC binding sites in slide-mounted brain sections with much greater potency than muscarinic drugs. The rat brain areas containing the highest densities of (/sup 3/H)MCC binding were in thalamic regions, the medial habenular nucleus and the superior colliculus. Moderate densities of (/sup 3/H)MCC binding were seen over the anterior cingulate cortex, the nucleus accumbens, the zona compacta of substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Low densities of (/sup 3/H)MCC binding were found in most other brain regions. These data suggest that (/sup 3/H)MCC selectively labels central nicotinic receptors and that these receptors are concentrated in the thalamus, the medial habenular nucleus and the superior colliculus of the rat brain. 29 references, 6 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Shizuoka, Japan
• OSTI ID: 5726745
• Journal Information: Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 41:26
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
NICOTINE
RECEPTORS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BRAIN
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LIGANDS
RATS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ALKALOIDS
AMINES
ANIMALS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
AZINES
AZOLES
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DATA
DRUGS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PARASYMPATHOLYTICS
PARASYMPATHOMIMETICS
PROTEINS
PYRIDINES
PYRROLES
PYRROLIDINES
REACTION KINETICS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques