Neurotensin receptors in the rat striatum: lesion studies

The specific binding of [3H]neurotensin binding to the rat striatum was characterized and its localization investigated by using frontal cortex ablations and the neurotoxins kainic acid and 6-hydroxydopamine. Scatchard analysis indicated the existence of a single population of binding sites and the potencies of various neurotensin fragments in competing with [3H]neurotensin for its binding site were in good agreement with the potency values obtained in biological assays. The lesion studies indicated that more than 50% of striatal neurotensin receptors are localized on intrinsic neurones, approximately 30% on dopaminergic nerve terminals and 20% on corticostriatal nerve fibres.