Recent trends in receptor analysis techniques and instrumentation

Receptor autoradiography allows visualization of receptor binding sites at the regional or light microscopic level. Receptor autoradiography is a mature methodology, in widespread use. It is also a dynamic and expanding methodology, benefiting constantly from the introduction of new techniques and instrumentation. In particular, receptor autoradiography has taken advantage of image analysis instrumentation to provide efficient spatial mapping of receptor populations and their pharmacological characteristics. A major contribution to the understanding of receptors has come from the recent cloning of the genes coding for many of these receptors. This has allowed the use of in situ hybridization to demonstrate the cells expressing mRNA coding for specific receptor subtypes. The result is that many receptor populations, previously thought to be homogeneous, are shown to be composed of several subtypes. As a consequence, the distribution of many receptors requires re-examination, which is aided by the development of new and more selective ligands. With the incorporation of techniques from molecular biology into receptor autoradiography, the demands upon image analysis instruments have expanded. Over the past decade, densitometric image analysers have attained a high level of sophistication for classical receptor autoradiography. However, to serve the needs of today's receptor laboratory, an image analyser must be equally capable in regional densitometry, in counting and spatial mapping of grain and/or cell locations at the microscopic level, and in analysing electrophoresis gels. Advances in image analysis hardware and software are keeping pace with the requirements of receptor laboratories.