Autoradiographic Localization of Opiate Receptors in The Rodent Hippocampus

Abstract

Intrastriatal injections of kainic acid lesioned ipsilateral CA3 and CA4 pyramidal cells in rat hippocampus. Subsequent visualization of radioactively-labeled opiate receptor distributions was achieved by autoradiographic techniques. Analysis of these data revealed the density and subtype of extant opiate receptors, both ipsilateral and contralateral to side of lesion, in CA1-2, CA3, CA4 and the dentate gyrus. Differences in opiate receptor density indicate intercellular locus and the nature of a putative cellular mechanism underying opiate action in the process of learning and memory. Results are discussed in terms of putative cellular mechanisms.