Dopamine receptor subtypes colocalize in rat striatonigral neurons

D. J. Surmeier*, J. Eberwine, C. J. Wilson, Y. Cao, A. Stefani, S. T. Kitai

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

354 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra provide one of the major neuromodulatory inputs to the neostriatum. Recent in situ hybridization experiments have suggested that postsynaptic dopamine receptors are segregated in striatonigral and striatopallidal neurons. We have tested this hypothesis in acutely isolated, retrogradely labeled striatonigral neurons by examining the neuromodulatory effects of selective dopaminergic agonists on Na currents and by probing single-cell antisense RNA populations with dopamine receptor cDNAs. In most of the neurons examined (20/31), the application of the DI dopamine receptor agonist SKF 38393 reduced evoked whole-cell Na+ current. The D2 agonists quinpirole and bromocriptine had mixed effects; in most neurons (23/42), whole-cell Na+ currents were reduced, but in others (8/42), currents were increased. In cell-attached patch recordings, bath application of SKF 38393 decreased currents as in whole-cell recordings, whereas quinpirole consistently (6/10) enhanced currents - suggesting that D2-like receptors could act through membrane delimited and non-delimited pathways. Changes in evoked current were produced by modulation of peak conductance and modest shifts in the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation. Antisense RNA probes of dopamine receptor cDNA Southern blots consistently (5/5) revealed the presence of D1, D2, and D3 receptor mRNA in single striatonigral neurons. These findings argue that, contrary to a strict receptor segregation hypothesis, many striatonigral neurons colocalize functional D1, D2, and D3 receptors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)10178-10182
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume89
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992

Keywords

  • Neostriatum
  • Neuromodulation
  • Sodium current
  • Substantia nigra
  • Voltage clamp

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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