Quantitative autoradiographic localization of central dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors.

Abstract

Interest in the role of dopamine (DA) as a neurotransmitter within the central nervous system has been increasing markedly over the last several years (Kaiser and Jain, 1985); in fact, it has become the “most extensively investigated neurotransmitter in the nervous system” (Kaiser and Jain, 1985). One area that has been the subject of intensive research is the study of DA receptors. Controversies exist on the actual number of different types of DA receptors, but based on dopamine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity (Kebabian and Calne, 1979; Stoof and Kebabian, 1984) there are primarily two subtypes of DA receptors. The dopamine type-1 (D-1) receptor which is positively associated with adenylate cyclase, and the dopamine type-2 (D-2) receptor which is not associated with this enzyme or, more appropriately, negatively linked.