Distinct target size of dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors in rat striatum.

Frozen rat striatal tissue was exposed to 10 MeV electrons from a linear accelerator. Based on the theory of target size analysis, the molecular weights of dopamine D-1 receptors (labelled by 3H-piflutixol) and dopamine D-2 receptors (labelled by 3H-spiroperidol) were 79,500 daltons and 136,700 daltons, respectively. The size of the dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase was 202,000 daltons. The estimated molecular sizes were deduced by reference to proteins with known molecular weights which were irradiated in parallel. The results showed that the molecular entities for 3H-piflutixol binding and 3H-spiroperidol binding were not identical. The present results do not allow conclusions as to whether D-1 and D-2 receptors are two distinct proteins in the membrane, or whether the receptors are located on the same protein. In the latter case the binding of 3H-spiroperidol needs the presence of a second molecule.