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(Hypertension. 1997;30:1566-1571.)
© 1997 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Dopamine D₃ Receptor in Peripheral Mononuclear Cells of Essential Hypertensives

Alberto Ricci; Elena Bronzetti; Paolo Mulatero; Marina Schena; Franco Veglio; ; Francesco Amenta

From the Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences (A.R., E.B.); University "La Sapienza" Rome, the Chair of Internal Medicine (P.M., M.S., F.V.); "San Vito" Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, the Section of Human Anatomy, Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Experimental Medicine (F.A.), University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.

Correspondence to Francesco Amenta, MD, Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Medicina Sperimentale, Via Scalzino, 5, 62032 Camerino, Italy. E-mail amenta{at}cambio.unicam.it

Abstract Dopamine D₃ receptor was studied in peripheral mononuclear cells of high-normal, stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3 essential hypertensives using a radioligand binding assay technique with [³H]-7-hydroxy-N,N-di-n-propyl-2-aminotetraline (7-OH-DPAT) as a radioligand. A group of de novo Parkinsonian patients was also examined as a reference group of impaired dopaminergic function. [³H]-7-OH-DPAT was bound specifically to human peripheral mononuclear cells in a manner consistent with the labeling of a dopamine D₃ receptor. No changes in free dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine and aldosterone levels, renin activity, dissociation constant of [³H]-7-OH-DPAT binding, or the pharmacological profile of [³H]-7-OH-DPAT binding were found between normotensive control subjects and essential hypertensives or Parkinsonians. The density of peripheral mononuclear cell [³H]-7-OH-DPAT binding sites increased in essential hypertensives parallel to blood pressure value augmentation. A higher density of [³H]-7-OH-DPAT binding sites was found in Parkinsonians. In these patients, the density of [³H]-7-OH-DPAT binding sites was similar to that observed in high-normal subjects and in stage 1 essential hypertensives. The increased density of peripheral mononuclear cell dopamine D₃ receptor in hypertension as well as in Parkinson's disease may represent an upregulation mechanism consequent to impaired dopaminergic function. In view of the difficulty in identifying markers of peripheral dopamine function, analysis of dopamine D₃ receptor in peripheral mononuclear cells may help evaluate whether the dopaminergic system is involved in hypertension.

Key Words: dopamine • D₃ receptors • mononuclear cells • radioligand binding assay • hypertension marker

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