Regional expression of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor proteins in the cerebral cortex of asphyxic newborn infants.
Dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptor protein expression was examined by Western blotting in newborn infants dying from cerebral asphyxia between 31 and 42 weeks' gestation, and matched controls. Frontal, occipital, temporal, and motor cortex tissue samples were obtained at autopsy (median postmortem interval 35 hours) and frozen for storage at -80 degrees C. A total of 2 immunoreactive bands were detected with each primary antibody in infant brain, whereas a single band was present in adult human and rat tissue. Immunoreactivity varied between cortical areas for both receptors, but their regional patterns differed significantly. D(1) protein levels were higher in motor and temporal cortex than in frontal or occipital cortex. D(2) protein showed graded expression frontal > motor > occipital > temporal cortex. Asphyxia cases showed lower expression of the upper D(2) immunoreactive band, but no difference in regional pattern. Lower D(2) receptor expression may attenuate stress responses and underlie increased vulnerability to hypoxia at birth.
Kaewsuk
Sukit
S
Neuro-Behavioural Biology Center, Institute of Science and Technology for Research and Development, Mahidol University, Thailand.
Tannenberg
Rudi K
RK
Kuo
Sheng-Wen
SW
Björkman
S Tracey
ST
Govitrapong
Piyarat
P
Stadlin
Alfreda
A
Dodd
Peter R
PR
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012044:Regression Analysis
D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2