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The dopamine D2 receptor is expressed in GH3 cells
J M Johnston1, D F Wood, E A Bolaji
1Unit of Metabolic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Paddington, London.
Journal of Molecular Endocrinology
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Dopamine D2 receptors regulate pituitary tumor growth. This study found that even unresponsive tumors express D2 receptor gene expression, indicating the issue lies beyond gene presence.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Pituitary tumors can be responsive or unresponsive to dopamine.
- Dopamine D2 receptors are implicated in regulating prolactin and GH release and tumor growth.
- Unresponsive pituitary tumors exhibit impaired high-affinity dopamine D2 receptor binding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if impaired dopamine D2 receptor gene expression causes dopamine resistance in pituitary tumors.
- To examine D2 receptor gene expression in the rat GH3 cell line, a model for unresponsive pituitary tumors.
Main Methods:
- Northern blot analysis to detect D2 receptor mRNA.
- SDS-PAGE to identify D2 receptor protein in cell membranes.
Main Results:
- D2 receptor mRNA was detected in both normal rat pituitary cells and GH3 cells.
- A putative D2 receptor protein was identified in the membranes of both normal and GH3 cells.
Conclusions:
- The lack of response to dopamine in GH3 cells is not due to an absence of D2 receptor gene expression.
- Further investigation is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms behind dopamine resistance in pituitary tumors.