Localization of dopamine receptor subtypes in systemic arteries

Dopamine D1-D5 receptor protein immunoreactivity was investigated in different sized pial, renal and mesenteric artery branches using immunohistochemical techniques and anti-dopamine D1-D5 receptor protein antibodies. Faint dopamine D1 receptor protein immunoreactivity was observed in smooth muscle of tunica media of pial, renal and mesenteric artery branches. Dopamine D2 receptor protein immunoreactivity was located in the adventitia and adventitia-media border of pial and renal artery branches and to a lesser extent of mesenteric artery branches. No dopamine D3 receptor protein immunoreactivity was observed in pial and mesenteric arteries. In renal arteries a moderate dopamine D3 receptor immunoreactivity was detectable in the adventitia and adventitia-media border. A strong dopamine D4 receptor protein immunoreactivity displaying the same localization of dopamine D2 receptor protein was observed in pial and mesenteric arteries, but not in renal artery branches. Moderate dopamine D5 receptor protein immunoreactivity was observed in smooth muscle of the tunica media of pial, renal and mesenteric artery branches. Bilateral removal of superior cervical ganglia, from which sympathetic supply to cerebral circulation originate abolished dopamine D2 and D4 receptor protein immunoreactivity in pial arteries but was without effect on dopamine D1 and D5 receptor protein immunoreactivity. These findings indicate that systemic arteries express dopamine D1-like (D1 and D5) and D2-like (D2, D3 and D4) receptor subtypes displaying respectively a muscular (postjunctional) and prejunctional localization. The specific distribution of dopamine D2-like receptor subtypes in systemic arteries suggests that they may have a different role in regulating blood flow through the vascular beds investigated.