Characterization of dopamine D2 receptor coupling to G proteins in postmortem brain of subjects with schizophrenia

Background: Alterations of dopamine D-1 (D1R) and D-2 receptor (D2R) are proposed in schizophrenia but brain neuroimaging and postmortem studies have shown controversial results in relation to D1R and D2R density. Besides, scarce information on the functionality of brain D1R and D2R is available. Th...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Egusquiza, Iker, Munarriz Cuezva, Eva, Segarra Echevarria, Rafael, González Maeso, Javier, Callado Hernando, Luis Felipe, Meana Martínez, José Javier, Díez Alarcia, Rebeca
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/54834
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/54834
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:D-2 receptors
schizophrenia
G protein
Human brain
[S-35]GTP gamma S
dopamine
gamma-S
binding
mediated activation
rat striatum
agonist
assay
autoradiography
pharmacology
haloperidol
antagonist
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Alterations of dopamine D-1 (D1R) and D-2 receptor (D2R) are proposed in schizophrenia but brain neuroimaging and postmortem studies have shown controversial results in relation to D1R and D2R density. Besides, scarce information on the functionality of brain D1R and D2R is available. The present study characterized G-protein activation by D1R and D2R agonists in postmortem human brain. Furthermore, D2R functional status was compared between schizophrenia and control subjects. Methods: G-protein receptor coupling was assessed in control caudate nucleus and frontal cortex by [S-35]GTP gamma S-binding stimulation induced by increasing concentrations (10(-10)-10(-3) M) of dopamine, and the selective dopaminergic agonists SKF38393 (D1R) and NPA (D2R). Concentration-response curves to NPA stimulation of [S-35]GTP gamma S binding were analyzed in antipsychotic-free (n = 10) and antipsychotic-treated (n = 7) schizophrenia subjects and matched controls (n = 17). Results: In caudate, [S-35]GTP gamma S-binding responses to agonists were compatible with the existence of functional D2R. In contrast, stimulations in cortex showed responses that did not correspond to D1R or D2R. [S-35]GTP gamma S-binding activation by NPA in caudate displayed biphasic curves with similar profile in schizophrenia (EC50H = 7.94 nM; EC50L = 7.08 mu M) and control (EC50H = 7.24 nM; EC50L = 15.14 mu M) subjects. The presence or absence of antipsychotic medication did not influence the pharmacological parameters. Conclusions: Feasibility of functional evaluation of dopamine receptors in postmortem human brain by conventional [S-35]GTP gamma S-binding assays appears to be restricted to signalling through inhibitory G(i/o) proteins. These findings provide functional information about brain D2R status in subjects with schizophrenia and do not support the existence of D2R supersensitive in this mental disorder.