Regional Expression of Dopamine D₁ and D₂ Receptor Proteins in the Cerebral Cortex of Asphyxic Newborn Infants

Abstract

Dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptor protein expression was examined by Western blotting in newborn infants dying from cerebral asphyxia between 31 and 42 weeks' gestation, and matched controls. Frontal, occipital, temporal, and motor cortex tissue samples were obtained at autopsy (median postmortem interval 35 hours) and frozen for storage at -80 degrees C. A total of 2 immunoreactive bands were detected with each primary antibody in infant brain, whereas a single band was present in adult human and rat tissue. Immunoreactivity varied between cortical areas for both receptors, but their regional patterns differed significantly. D(1) protein levels were higher in motor and temporal cortex than in frontal or occipital cortex. D(2) protein showed graded expression frontal > motor > occipital > temporal cortex. Asphyxia cases showed lower expression of the upper D(2) immunoreactive band, but no difference in regional pattern. Lower D(2) receptor expression may attenuate stress responses and underlie increased vulnerability to hypoxia at birth.

Fetal growth restriction caused by MIMT1 deletion alters brain transcriptome in cattle

“…Reduced D2 receptor expression has been reported in rats and newborn human babies after cerebral asphyxia (Kaewsuk et al, 2009a, 2009b). It has also been suggested that lower D2 receptor expression may attenuate stress responses and underlie increased vulnerability to hypoxia at birth (Kaewsuk et al, 2009a, 2009b). Our findings suggest that the role of DRD2 in prenatal development is worth investigating further.…”

“…While DA pathways have been studied in great detail in adult brain, the role and function of the DA system during fetal development is not well understood. Reduced D2 receptor expression has been reported in rats and newborn human babies after cerebral asphyxia (Kaewsuk et al, 2009a(Kaewsuk et al, , 2009b. It has also been suggested that lower D2 receptor expression may attenuate stress responses and underlie increased vulnerability to hypoxia at birth (Kaewsuk et al, 2009a(Kaewsuk et al, , 2009b.…”

Effects of Premature Birth on the Risk for Alcoholism Appear to Be Greater in Males Than Females

“…It is also possible that familial contributions toward alcoholism in men may arise from or be augmented by an increased risk of premature birth among alcoholic families (Levit et al, 2009). For example, differential expression of dopamine D 1 and D 2 receptors has been implicated as a vulnerability factor for both alcoholism (Le Foll et al, 2009) and perinatal asphyxia (Kaewsuk et al, 2009), a leading cause of perinatal brain injury.…”

Rewarming from Therapeutic Hypothermia Induces Cortical Neuron Apoptosis in a Swine Model of Neonatal Hypoxic–Ischemic Encephalopathy

“…16 In addition, vulnerability of the motor cortex to HI has been reported in human neonates. 17 We tested the hypotheses that (1) different cerebral cortical regions show differential vulnerability to HI and that hypothermia protects against ischemic vulnerability; (2) cortical injury after HI with hypothermia and rewarming is morphologically distinct from the ischemic necrosis that occurs after HI with normothermic recovery;…”