Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Localization of the mRNA for the dopamine D sub 2 receptor in the rat brain by in situ hybridization histochemistry

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA)

{sup 32}P-labeled oligonucleotides derived from the coding region of rat dopamine D{sub 2} receptor cDNA were used as probes to localize cells in the rat brain that contain the mRNA coding for this receptor by using in situ hybridization histochemistry. The highest level of hybridization was found in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland. High mRNA content was observed in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, the nuclei caudate-putamen and accumbens, and the olfactory tubercle. Lower levels were seen in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the ventral tegmental area, as well as in the lateral mammillary body. In these areas the distribution was comparable to that of the dopamine D{sub 2} receptor binding sites as visualized by autoradiography using ({sup 3}H)SDZ 205-502 as a ligand. However, in some areas such as the olfactory bulb, neocortex, hippocampus, superior colliculus, and cerebellum, D{sub 2} receptors have been visualized but no significant hybridization signal could be detected. The mRNA coding for these receptors in these areas could be contained in cells outside those brain regions, be different from the one recognized by our probes, or be present at levels below the detection limits of our procedure. The possibility of visualizing and quantifying the mRNA coding for dopamine D{sub 2} receptor at the microscopic level will yield more information about the in vivo regulation of the synthesis of these receptor and their alteration following selective lesions or drug treatments.

OSTI ID:
6906550
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA), Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA) Vol. 86:21; ISSN 0027-8424; ISSN PNASA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Dopamine receptor gene expression by enkephalin neurons in rat forebrain
Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1989 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA) · OSTI ID:7168383

Cloning, molecular characterization, and chromosomal assignment of a gene encoding a second D sub 1 dopamine receptor subtype: Differential expression pattern in rat brain compared with the D sup 1A receptor
Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (United States) · OSTI ID:5703155

Diazepam binding inhibitor gene expression: Location in brain and peripheral tissues of rate
Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA; (United States) · OSTI ID:5822713