Striatal excitatory amino acid receptor subunit expression in the D(1A)-dopamine receptor-deficient mouse

Abstract

The influence of dopamine receptor deletion on the expression and distribution of striatal excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptor subunits comprising the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) subtypes were examined in the D(1A) dopamine (DA) receptor-deficient mouse. EAA receptor subunit immunofluorescent staining was altered by the DA receptor genetic mutation. The NMDA-R1 subunit was used as a marker for NMDA-type receptors. The number of striatal neurons expressing this subunit decreased and there was a modest attenuation in the neuropil staining in the mutants in contrast to littermate controls. The R1 subunit for the glutamate recepto..