Rotational behavior produced by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of dopamine D2 receptor into rat striatum

We investigated the expression and functionality of a previously developed adenoviral vector carrying the rat cDNA for the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R), AdCMV.DopD2R. Comparative analysis of the autoradiographic images from the striatum injected with AdCMV.DopD2R and the contralateral striatum injected with a control vector, AdCMV.Null, in male rats indicated that D2R binding was increased by 40-60% on days 3 and 5 after injection, but then declined to baseline levels by day 21. When injected with apomorphine on days 3 and 7 after vector injection, experimental groups that had received unilateral striatal injections of AdCMV.DopD2R exhibited a distinct and significant laterality in rotational behavior. These results provide the first demonstration of an adenovirally mediated, intracerebral delivery of a functional neurotransmitter receptor.