Localization of dopamine D_1 and D_2 receptor mRNAs in the rat systemic and pulmonary vasculatures

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The present study was designed to evaluate the expression of dopamine D_1and D_2 receptor mRNAs in systemic and pulmonary vasculatures. Using specific antisense riboprobes for dopamine D_1 and D_2 receptor cDNAs, in situ hybridization histochemistry was performed in the aorta, common carotid artery, vertebral artery, pulmonary artery, and superior vena cava of the adult male Sprague Dawley rat. In the cases of aorta, common carotid artery, and vertebral artery, dopamine D_1 receptor mRNAs localized mainly in the smooth muscle cells of tunica media. However, the signals of dopamine D_2 receptor mRNAs were found in the endothelium and subendothelial layer of tunica intima, and interstitial cells of tunica adventitia. In the case of pulmonary artery, signals of dopamine D_1 receptor mRNAs were detected within the tunica intima, media, and advenitia. Expression of D_2 receptor mRNAs was detected in the walls of small blood vessels within the tunica adventitia of pulmonary artery. There were no detectable signals of dopamine D_1 and D_2 receptor mRNAs in the vein. The uneven distribution of dopamine D_1 and D_2 receptor mRNAs in the rat systemic vasculatures and pulmonary artery suggests that dopamine differentially regulates the vasodilation of the systemic and pulmonary arteries through the differential stimulation of dopamine D_1 and D_2 receptor.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Materials and methods
• 3. Results
• 4. Discussion
• References