IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL MAPPING OF A NOVEL DOPAMINE-RELEASING PROTEIN IN THE RAT-BRAIN

This report partially describes, for the first time, the immunocytoche mical distribution of a novel dopamine-releasing protein (DARP) in the male rat brain. This glycoprotein detected specifically with a monocl onal antibody against DARP follows a close distribution to that of cat echolamines (CA) in areas in the CNS rich in either CA fibers or CA ne uron cell groups as previously reported by others using a tyrosine hyd roxylase (TH) marker. The striking similarities in the topographic arr angement of the DARP-positive reaction product and the TH-positive rea ction product is another argument favoring the view that DARP is invol ved in the regulation of catecholamine neurons.