Sex differences in dopamine receptor overproduction and elimination.
Density of dopamine D1 and D2 family receptors was assessed using autoradiography in male and female rats from 25 to 120 days of age, focusing on transitions through puberty into full adulthood. Males had greater overproduction (approximately 4.6-fold) and elimination of striatal D1 and D2 receptors than females, though their adult densities were very similar. Males had more extensive overproduction of D1 receptors in nucleus accumbens and sustained a greater density into adulthood (57.8 +/- 21.2%). These results have implications for understanding gender differences in the prevalence of clinical disorders associated with dopamine.
Andersen
S L
SL
Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
Rutstein
M
M
Benzo
J M
JM
Hostetter
J C
JC
Teicher
M H
MH
D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2