Characterization and localization of arginine vasotocin receptors in the brain and kidney of an amphibian

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6151995

Boyd, S K

Because arginine vasotocin (AVT) activates male sexual behaviors in the rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa), quantitative autoradiography with radiolabeled arginine vasopressin (/sup 3/H-AVP) was used to localize and characterize putative AVT receptors in the brain of this amphibian. Binding of /sup 3/H-AVP to sites within the medial pallium was saturable, specific, reversible, of high affinity and low capacity. These binding sites appear to represent authentic central nervous system receptors for AVT. Furthermore, ligand specificity for the binding sites in this amphibian differs from that reported for AVP binding sites in rat brains. Dense concentrations of specific binding sites were located in the olfactory nerve as it entered the olfactory bulb within the medial pallium, dorsal pallium, and amygdala pars lateralis of the telencephalon, and in the tegmental region of the medulla. Concentrations of binding sites differed significantly among various brain regions. A comparison of male and female newts collected during the breeding season revealed no sexual dimorphism. These areas may represent site(s) of action where AVT elicits sexual behaviors in male T. granulosa.

• Research Organization: Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6151995
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMPHIBIANS
BIOCHEMISTRY
RECEPTORS
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BRAIN
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
SEX DEPENDENCE
SPECIFICITY
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMISTRY
DRUGS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques