title: Receptors for dopamine and serotonin on astrocytes of cultured rat central nervous system.
abstract: 1. The actions of dopamine, apomorphine, serotonin and their antagonists on the membrane potential of astrocytes in explant cultures of rat striatum, brain stem and spinal cord have been examined. 2. Dopamine, apomorphine and serotonin caused hyperpolarizations of the majority of astrocytes tested. A small number of cells was depolarized and on a relatively large number of astrocytes the amines had no effect. 3. The hyperpolarizations by dopamine were reversibly blocked by its antagonists cis-flupenthixol and domperidone whereas those by serotonin were antagonized by its antagonist ketanserin. 4. Light microscopic autoradiographic studies revealed a great number of binding sites for 3H-dopamine, 3H-serotonin and their antagonists on cultured astrocytes. 5. Our electrophysiological and autoradiographic studies indicate that astrocytes possess receptors for dopamine and serotonin. Little is as yet known about their functional role. Biochemical studies suggest that in glial cells these amines influence the levels of c-AMP and are involved in the breakdown of inositol phospholipids. Serotonin might further be involved in the regulation of energy metabolism by promoting glycogenolysis in glial cells, thus supplying neurones with energy-reserves.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D001058:Apomorphine; D004298:Dopamine