Localization of dopamine D2 receptor mRNA in glomus cells of the rabbit carotid body by in situ hybridization.

The localization of mRNA coding for the dopamine D2 receptor was studied in the rabbit carotid body using in situ hybridization with synthetic 35S-labelled oligodeoxynucleotides. Using autoradiography on cryostat or semi-thin sections, labelling was observed over the cytoplasm of glomus cells, but not over sustentacular cells. A quantitative study showed that labelling intensity (silver grain density) was increased by haloperidol treatment. These results suggest that glomus cells express the dopamine D2 receptor gene and that this expression is regulated.