Multiple binding sites for [125I]RTI-121 and other cocaine analogs in rat frontal cerebral cortex

In an effort to identify novel binding sites for cocaine and its analogs, we carried out binding studies with the high-affinity and selective ligand [125I]RTI-121 in rat frontal cortical tissue. Very low densities of binding sites were found. Saturation analysis revealed that the binding was to both high- and low-affinity sites. Pharmacological competition studies were carried out with inhibitors of the dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters. The various transporter inhibitors inhibited the binding of 15 pM [125I]RTI-121 in a biphasic fashion following a two-site binding model. The resultant data were complex and did not suggest a simple association with any single transporter. Correlational analysis supported the following hypothesis: [125I] RTI-121 binds to known transporters and not to novel sites; these include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters. Immunoprecipitation of transporters photoaffinity labeled with [125]RTI-82 and subsequent analysis of SDS-page gels revealed the presence of authentic dopamine transporters in these samples; displacement of the photoaffinity label occurred with a typical dopamine transporter pharmacology. These data are compatible with the binding properties of RTI-121 and the presence of several known transporters in the tissue studied.