ANGIOTENSIN-II RECEPTOR SUBTYPES IN RAT-BRAIN - DITHIOTHREITOL INHIBITS LIGAND-BINDING TO AII-1 AND ENHANCES BINDING TO AII-2

Angiotensin II (AII) receptor subtypes have been proposed on the basis of the selectivity of non-peptide AII antagonists. In the present study, the sulfhydryl reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT) was found to reduce binding to the AII-1 receptor while enhancing binding at the AII-2 site. The neuroanatomical distribution of these effects were consistent with the distribution of AII-1 and AII-2 receptors, respectively. These data indicate that AII receptor subtypes in the brain can be differentiated by both biochemical and pharmacological means.