Visualisation of AMPA binding sites in the brain of mice lacking the adenosine A(2a) receptor

Adenosine A(2a) receptor knockout mice (A(2a)R k/o) have been characterised as hypertensive, aggressive, anxious and hypoalgesic [12]. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate markers of glutamatergic transmission in specific brain nuclei associated with autonomic regulation. Visualisation of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxasole-4-propionic acid binding sites in the brains of A(2a)R k/o mice was achieved by utilising quantitative receptor autoradiography with (S)-[(3)H]-5-fluorowillardiine ([(3)H]FW:10 nM) on slide-mounted sections of mouse-brain. [(3)H]FW binding significantly increased in the nucleus tractus solitarius and area postrema of A(2a)R k/o mice compared with wildtype CD-1 mice. In other autonomic nuclei examined, binding was unchanged between wildtype and knockout mice. The present study suggests that glutamatergic neurotransmission within certain neural pathways involved in autonomic and motor control is altered in the brains of A(2a)R k/o mice.