Sigma(2)-receptor regulation of dopamine transporter via activation of protein kinase C.

The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying sigma(2)-receptor activation and signal transduction is crucial to the understanding of sigma(2)-receptor function. Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated sigma(2)-receptor-mediated regulation of the dopamine transporter (DAT) as measured by amphetamine-stimulated release of [(3)H]dopamine (DA) from both rat striatal slices and PC12 cells. The regulation of the DAT in the PC12 cell model was dependent upon activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II.