New technologies for examining the role of neuronal ensembles in drug addiction and fear

作者：Cruz Fabio C; Koya Eisuke; Guez Barber Danielle H; Bossert Jennifer M; Lupica Carl R; Shaham Yavin; Hope Bruce T^*

来源：Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2013, 14(11): 743-754.

DOI：10.1038/nrn3597

Correlational data suggest that learned associations are encoded within neuronal ensembles. However, it has been difficult to prove that neuronal ensembles mediate learned behaviours because traditional pharmacological and lesion methods, and even newer cell type-specific methods, affect both activated and non-activated neurons. In addition, previous studies on synaptic and molecular alterations induced by learning did not distinguish between behaviourally activated and non-activated neurons. Here, we describe three new approaches - Daun02 inactivation, FACS sorting of activated neurons and Fos-GFP transgenic rats - that have been used to selectively target and study activated neuronal ensembles in models of conditioned drug effects and relapse. We also describe two new tools - Fos-tTA transgenic mice and inactivation of CREB-overexpressing neurons - that have been used to study the role of neuronal ensembles in conditioned fear.

• 出版日期2013-11