Genetic control of dopamine and serotonin receptors in brain regions of inbred mice

In this report the genetic determinants of dopamine and serotonin receptors are investigated. We have used two types of radioreceptor binding assays to identify and quantify these neurotransmitter receptors in various brain regions of inbred mice. In the first method dopamine and serotonin sites are quantified using 3H]spiperone in the presence of appropriate blanking agents. These results are compared with those obtained by the use of 3H]domperidone and 3H]mianserin to label D2 and S2 sites, respectively. Both methods yield nearly identical results. Strain differences in D2 sites are found in the striatum, olfactory tubercle and pituitary. The density of dopaminergic sites is uncorrelated in the 3 brain regions in all mouse strains studied, suggesting that genetic determination of receptor density is independently regulated in each region. Similar observations have been made for S2 receptors in the striatum, hypothalamus, olfactory tubercle and frontal cortex. Analysis of D3 and D2 binding sites in recombinant inbred lines suggests that each site may be determined monogenically.