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Autoradiographic Localization of Dopaminergic and Noradrenergic Receptors in the Bovine Pineal Gland
Author(s) -
Simonneaux V.,
Happe H. K.,
Ebadi M.,
Murrin L. C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1991.tb06383.x
Subject(s) - dopaminergic , receptor , dopamine receptor , medicine , pineal gland , endocrinology , dopamine , biology , adrenergic receptor , d2 like receptor , melatonin , chemistry , dopamine receptor d3
: Dopamine and norepinephrine are involved in regulation of melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland. In bovine pineal gland, D 1 ‐and D 2 ‐dopaminergic and α 1 ‐adrenergic receptors have been characterized pharmacologically in several laboratories, while β 1 ‐adrenergic receptors have been studied using physiological techniques. The current study presents a quantitative autoradiographic analysis of these four dopaminergic and noradrenergic receptors in bovine pineal gland. The density order of the receptors is D 1 > α 1 > D 2 β 1 . The B max of dopamine D 1 receptors is about 5 to 6 times higher than the B max for α 1 adrcnergic receptors and about 20 times higher than the B max values for β 1 adrenergic and D 2 ‐dopaminergic receptors. Dopamine D 1 receptors are significantly denser in the pineal cortex than in the medulla. Both dopamine receptors are more concentrated in the distal area than in the proximal area (close to the habenula), whereas both noradrenergic receptors are homogeneously distributed along the longitudinal axis. Only D 1 ‐dopaminergic receptors display a heterogeneous distribution between the superior and the inferior areas, being denser in the inferior area. The observation of a much higher concentration of D 1 ‐dopaminergic receptors relative to the other receptors suggests an important role for dopamine in the regulation of bovine pineal physiology.