Non-conventional endocrine functions of dopamine type 2 receptor: new insights gained from transgenic mice

GARCÍA-TORNADÚ, ISABEL; RECOUVREUX, MARIA VICTORIA; RAMÍREZ, MARIA CECILIA; LUQUE, MARIA GUILLERMINA; PEREZ-MILLÁN, MARIA INES; LORENZO, RODRIGO; CAMILLETTI, MARIA ANDREA; ORNSTEIN, ANA MARÍA; LACAU-MENGIDO, ISABEL; CRISTINA, CAROLINA; RIFKIN, DANIEL B.; BECU-VILLALOBOS, DAMASIA; DÍAZ-TORGA, GRACIELA

ACTA BIOQUíMICA CLíNICA LATINOAMERICANA

FEDERACION BIOQUIMICA PROVINCIA BUENOS AIRES

Lugar: La Plata; Año: 2011 vol. 45 p. 699 - 703

0325-2957

Dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) participate in a complex systemof adaptive functions to improve performance, reproductivesuccess and survival of individuals.Using combinedstrategies with drug, cell lines and transgenic mice, our laboratorydemonstrated that D2R take part, not only in the developmentof prolactinomas, but also in the regulation of thegrowth axis, food intake and glucose metabolism. It was determinedthat the development of prolactinomas due to thelack of D2R correlates with increased VEGF and decreasedTGF β1 and TGF type II receptor, positioning these factors aspotential targets in complementary therapies for dopamine agonistresistant prolactinomas. With regard to the growth axis,it was postulated that D2R facilitates the release of GHRH,and the absence of the receptor determines a decrease in thesomatotroph population and produces dwarfism. Regardingfood intake, it was demonstrated that the absence of D2Rmodulates several orexigenic and anorexigenic factors, pointingto a complexity of the system. Finally, it was shown thatdopamine modulates insulin release through pancreatic D2R,partly clarifying why the use of antipsychotics leads to developmentof type II diabetes. Overall, our results highlight theimportance of this receptor in non-classical endocrine actionsand enable the understanding of the integral physiology of theD2R in homeostasis