Visualisation of AMPA binding sites in the brain of mice lacking the adenosine A(2a) receptor

Abstract

Adenosine A(2a) receptor knockout mice (A(2a)R k/o) have been characterised as hypertensive, aggressive, anxious and hypoalgesic [12]. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate markers of glutamatergic transmission in specific brain nuclei associated with autonomic regulation. Visualisation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxasole-4-propionic acid binding sites in the brains of A(2a)R k/o mice was achieved by utilising quantitative receptor autoradiography with (S)-[3H]-5-fluorowillardiine ([3H]FW:10 nM) on slide-mounted sections of mouse-brain. [3H]FW binding significantly increased in the nucleus tractus solitarius and area postrema of A(2a)R k/o mice compared with wildtype CD-1 mi..