New insights into the endocrine and metabolic roles of dopamine D2 receptors gained from the Drd2 mouse.
Dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) participation in prolactin regulation is well documented, but the role of D2Rs in the control of other hormones involved in growth, food intake and glucose metabolism has not been extensively studied. The study of D2R knockout mice (Drd2(-/-)) puts forward new insights into the role of the D2R in growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-GH regulation, peptides involved in food intake, glucose homeostasis, as well as in prolactinoma development. The expected phenotype of chronic hyperprolactinemia and prolactinoma development was found in the Drd2(-/-) mouse, and this model constitutes a valuable tool in the study of dopamine-resistant prolactinomas. Unexpectedly, these mice were growth retarded, and the importance of functional hypothalamic D2Rs in the neonatal period was revealed. In the Drd2(-/-) mouse there was a failure of high neonatal GH levels and therefore the expansion of pituitary somatotropes was permanently altered. These mice also had increased food intake, and a sexually dimorphic participation of the D2R in food intake regulation is suggested. The effect described is probably secondary to D2R regulation of prolactin secretion. Furthermore, the negative modulation of D2Rs on α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone release and positive action on the hypothalamic expression of orexins reveals the complex D2R regulation of food intake. Finally, pancreatic D2Rs inhibit glucose-stimulated insulin release. Lack of dopaminergic inhibition throughout development in the Drd2(-/-) mouse may exert a gradual deteriorating effect on insulin homeostasis, so that eventually glucose intolerance develops. These results highlight the complex endocrine actions of the D2Rs at different levels, hypothalamus, pituitary or pancreas, which function to improve fitness, reproductive success and survival.
Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Isabel
I
Garcia-Tornadú
Maria Ines
MI
Perez-Millan
Victoria
V
Recouvreux
Maria Cecilia
MC
Ramirez
Guillermina
G
Luque
Gabriela Sofia
GS
Risso
Ana Maria
AM
Ornstein
Carolina
C
Cristina
Graciela
G
Diaz-Torga
Damasia
D
Becu-Villalobos
D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008660:Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone