Mammal-Like Striatal Functions in Anolis

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Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors are thought to play important roles in the mammalian striatum. As basal ganglia functions in general are thought highly conserved among amniotes, we decided to use in situ autoradiographic methods to determine the occurrence and distribution of pharmacologically mammal-like 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in the lizard, Anolis carolinensis, with particular attention to the striatum. We also determined the distributions of 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B/D, 5 HT3, and 5-HTuptake receptors for comparison. All 5-HT receptors examined showed pharmacological binding specificity, and forebrain binding density distributions that resembled those reported for mammals. Anolis 5 HT2A/C and 5-HT1A site distributions were similar in both in vivo and ex vivo binding experiments. 5-HT2A & C receptors occur in both high and low affinity states, the former having preferential affinity for 125I-(±)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodo-amphetamine hydrochloride (125I-DOI). In mammals 125I-DOI binding shows a patchy density distribution in the striatum, being more dense in striosomes than in surrounding matrix. There was no evidence of any such patchy density of 125I-DOI binding in the anole striatum, however. As a further indication that anoles do not possess a striosome and matrix striatal organization, neither 3H-naloxone binding nor histochemical staining for acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) were patchy. AChE did show a band-like striatal distribution, however, similar to that seen in birds.