Selective overexpression of dopamine D3 receptors in the striatum disrupts motivation but not cognition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evidence indicating an increase in dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) density and occupancy in patients with schizophrenia comes from positron emission tomography studies using ligands that bind both D2Rs and dopamine D3 receptors (D3Rs), questioning the role of D3Rs in the pathophysiology of the disease. Dopamine D3 receptor positron emission tomography ligands have recently been developed and antagonists with preferential affinity for D3R versus D2R are undergoing clinical evaluation. To determine if an increase in D3Rs in the striatum could produce phenotypes relevant to schizophrenia, we generated a transgenic model of striatal D3R overexpression.

Methods

A bi-transgenic system was used to generate mice with increased D3Rs selectively in the striatum. Mice with overex

SUBMITTER: Simpson EH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4047204 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature