title: Dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptor mRNA levels in rat brain and pituitary during aging.
abstract: Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction technique was used to determine the levels of the mRNAs encoding different receptors belonging to the D2 family in various brain areas of 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old rats. We found a progressive, age-dependent reduction in the mRNA levels of D2 short and D2 long receptors in corpus striatum, substantia nigra, and frontal cortex. D2 short and D2 long receptor mRNA levels were unchanged in hippocampus and olfactory tubercle, while they increased in pituitary. D3 receptor mRNA levels were reduced in olfactory tubercle and unchanged in striatum. D4 receptor mRNA levels were unmodified in pituitary gland. These data suggest that the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating the pattern of expression of the various dopamine receptors are differentially regulated by aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Brescia University School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belloni
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gorno
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tinti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Memo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spano
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000235:genetics*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4
chemical_list: C493595:Drd3 protein, rat; C493601:Drd4 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4