Fig. 4
From: Cranial radiation disrupts dopaminergic signaling and connectivity in the mammalian brain
Cranial irradiation disrupts the function of D2 receptors without significantly altering their density within the prefrontal cortex (PFC). (A) The effects of radiation exposure are evident in the altered response of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons to apomorphine (D2 receptor agonist) and raclopride (D2 receptor antagonist), exhibiting a transient pattern of hypersensitization followed by desensitization of D2 receptors (solid line: mean; shadow fills: SEM; n = 4 rats in each group). (B) Western blotting results revealed a trend of dynamic changes in D2 receptor expression in the PFC following radiation exposure; however, one-way ANOVA did not detect any significant differences (F(2,6) = 3.196, P = 0.114)