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Abstract
Dopamine interacts with distinct receptors on different target neurons in the rat retina. Dopamine receptors were labeled in the rat retina by autoradiography using 3H-SCH-23390 and 3H-spiperone binding to retinal sections. The 3H-SCH-23390 binding to D1 receptors was most concentrated in the inner plexiform, inner nuclear, and ganglion cell layers; it was absent from the outer nuclear layer and the photoreceptor inner and outer segments. Competition studies indicated that 3H-SCH-23390 binding to the inner retina was inhibited with high affinities by the D1-specific agonist and antagonist, SKF-38393 and SCH-23390. The D2-specific compounds were ineffective in competing for 3H-SCH-23390 binding. The 3H-spiperone binding to D2 receptors, however, was most concentrated in the photoreceptor inner and outer segments and in the outer nuclear layer. The D2-specific agonist and antagonists, such as quinpirole, sulpiride, and eticlopride, competed for 3H-binding with high affinities; SCH-23390 and SKF-38393 were ineffective. The D2 receptors on the photoreceptors had a high affinity for clozapine but lower affinities for the modified benzamides. This is characteristic of a novel subtype of D2 receptors. Thus, D1 and D2 dopamine receptors are localized differentially in the rat retina to mediate different physiologic effects of dopamine.