Molecular biology studies have documented the presence of peripheral dopamine D4 receptors. This site has not been characterized yet with classical radioligand binding assay techniques because of the lack of selective radioligands. 2. The atypical neuroleptic clozapine labelled with tritium ([3H]-clozapine) has been proposed and sold as a radioligand for brain dopamine D4 receptors. However, the selectivity of [3H]-clozapine for D4 receptor subtypes, and its specificity for brain dopamine receptors, have been questioned. 3. In this study dopamine D4 receptors were assayed in peripheral organs known to express them, such as rat atria and kidney, by using a radioligand binding assay technique with [3H]-clozapine as the radioligand. Parallel experiments were performed using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the D4 receptor clone (variant D4.2). 4. [3H]-Clozapine was bound to sections of rat atria and kidney. After appropriate blockade of sites other than dopamine receptors to which it can bind (i.e. muscarinic cholinergic, serotonergic and alpha-adrenergic receptors), the radioligand was bound to a site displaying a pharmacological profile similar to that expressed by CHO cells transfected with the D4 receptor. 5. The above findings indicate that with appropriate protocols, [3H]-clozapine may represent a radioligand for peripheral dopamine D4 receptors.
