Dissociation between the presynaptic dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase and [H]spiperone binding sites in rat substantia nigra

[3H]Spiperone binding sites and the dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase were measured in rat substantia nigra (s. nigra) 7 or 14 days after various lesions. Hemisections, which resulted in a 66% decline in tyrosine hydroxylase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and a 73% decrease in glutamate decarboxylase, led to a 50% decrease in [3H]spiperone binding and to the almost complete disappearance of the dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase from the s. nigra on the lesioned side. 6-Hydroxydopamine injection into the s. nigra, which depleted tyrosine hydroxylase activity within the s. nigra by 85%, while leaving phosphodiesterase unaffected, resulted in a 40% decrease in [3H]spiperone binding but no change in the dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase. Intrastriatal injections of kainic acid did not alter tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the s. nigra, but decreased both glutamate decarboxylase (54%) and phosphodiesterase (68%); [3H]spiperone binding was unaffected by this lesion while the dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase was greatly reduced (50-75%). These results suggest that within the s. nigra the dopamine receptor binding sites as defined using [3H]spiperone are located on dopamine neurones while the dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase is located presynaptically on striatonigral nerve terminals.