Localization of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor mRNAs in the rat systemic and pulmonary vasculatures

The present study was designed to evaluate the expression of dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptor mRNAs in systemic and pulmonary vasculatures. Using specific antisense riboprobes for dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptor cDNAs, in situ hybridization histochemistry was performed in the aorta, common carotid artery, vertebral artery, pulmonary artery, and superior vena cava of the adult male Sprague Dawley rat, In the case of the aorta, common carotid artery, and vertebral artery, dopamine D-1 receptor mRNAs localized mainly in the smooth muscle cells of the tunica media. However, the signals of dopamine D-2 receptor mRNAs were found in the endothelium and subendothelial layer of tunica intima, and interstitial cells of tunica adventitia, In the case of the pulmonary artery, signals of dopamine D-1 receptor mRNAs were detected within the tunica intima, media, and adventitia, Expression of D-2 receptor mRNAs was detected in the walls of small blood vessels within the tunica adventitia of the pulmonary artery. There were no detectable signals of dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptor mRNAs in the vein, The uneven distribution of dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptor mRNAs in the rat systemic vasculatures and pulmonary artery suggests that dopamine differentially regulates the vasodilation of the systemic and pulmonary arteries through the differential stimulation of dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptor.