Optic tectum adenylate cyclase activity from goldfish (Carassius auratus) as a model to assess dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists.

The distribution of adenylate cyclase activity in several discrete areas of brain in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) and the responsiveness of this activity in the optic tectum to various neurotransmitters were studied. Adenylate cyclase activity was found to have an uneven distribution in the brain, the highest concentrations occurring in the telencephalon. A dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase was found in the optic tectum. The increase in cAMP formation induced by dopamine was selectively prevented by antagonists at post-synaptic dopamine receptors linked to adenylate cyclase.