Amphetamine regulates NR2B expression in Go2 alpha knockout mice and thereby sustains behavioral sensitization

作者:Brunk Irene; Sanchis Segura Carles; Blex Christian; Perreau Lenz Stephanie; Bilbao Ainhoa; Spanagel Rainer; Ahnert Hilger Gudrun*
来源:Journal of Neurochemistry, 2010, 115(1): 234-246.
DOI:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06921.x

摘要

P>The alpha-subunit of Go2 is a regulator of dopamine (DA) homeostasis. Deletion of the protein results in an imbalance of the direct and indirect DA pathway by reducing D1 and increasing D2 receptors. As a result, cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization is abolished. Here we show that repeated amphetamine injections in Go2 alpha-/- mice induced a similar D1/D2 receptor ratio shift as cocaine but surprisingly the knockouts developed normal behavioral sensitization. DA receptor signaling following either cocaine or amphetamine treatment was also similar in Go2 alpha-/- mice suggesting another mechanism involved in the differential behavioral response. Evidence is increasing that DA-glutamate interactions in the striatum determine psychostimulant action. In this line, repeated amphetamine injections led to a twofold increase in the amount of the NMDA receptor subunit NR2B in Go2 alpha-/- mice resulting in an enhanced inhibition of the indirect DA pathway. This effect is not seen after cocaine treatment. Furthermore, amphetamine but not cocaine treatment maintained the ratio between the glutamate receptor mGluR1/5 interacting proteins Homer and Homer1a in the knockouts thereby sustaining the direct pathway. We conclude that amphetamine provokes behavioral sensitization in Go2 alpha-/- mice by an enhanced inhibition of the indirect pathway without disturbing the direct pathway thereby overcoming the imbalance in the DArgic system.

  • 出版日期2010-10
  • 单位上海市精神卫生中心