Figure 6. Analysis of DOPr mRNA and [³H]-DeltII binding in WT and α_2A-KO mice.

Quantitative PCR analysis of the Oprd1 gene transcript from WT and α_2A-KO DRG (A) and spinal cord (B) mRNA extracts showed no strain differences in DOPr mRNA expression. Relative expression was obtained by normalizing expression values to three internal house keeping reference genes (Gapdh, Hptr1, Ubc) and then normalized with the WT value of that tissue as a reference. C) Saturation ligand binding performed on spinal cord membrane protein extracts from WT and α_2A-KO mice showing specific binding obtained by subtracting nonspecific from total [³H]-DeltII binding. The binding was concentration-dependent and no significant strain difference was detected. D) Competition of 1 nM [³H]-DeltII binding to spinal cord membranes by naltrindole was similar in WT and α_2A-KO mice. CPM = counts per minute. DPM = disintregrations per minute.