Distribution of Dopamine Transporter in the Rat: an Immunohistochemical Study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the organ distribution of dopamine transporter (DAT) in rats by immunohistochemical method. METHODS: Dopamine transporter (DAT) was identified immunohistochemically in the tissues using specific antipeptide antiserum raised in New Zealand white rabbits immunized with a conjugate of synthetic DAT peptide (29-45) with bovine serum albumin. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed by avidin-biotin complex method. RESULTS: DAT immunoreactivity was visualized in the neural perikarya, axons and dendrites of the central nervous system, retina, adrenal medulla, Auerbach's nervous branch and Meissner's nervous branch of the stomach, small intestine and colon, anterior pituitary, and lung. When using antiserum preincubated with synthetic DAT peptide (DAT, 29-45) or hypothalamus homogenate which contains DAT, no significant stain of neurons in the hypothalamus was detected. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that DAT is widely distributed and that the method used is valuable in studying the distribution of DAT in rats.