Knockdown of dopamine D₂ receptors in the nucleus accumbens core suppresses methamphetamine-induced behaviors and signal transduction in mice.

ABSTRACT: Addictive drugs lead to reinforcing properties by increasing dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, which is composed of a core and shell regions. Neurons in the nucleus accumbens are divided into 2 subtypes based on the differential gene expression of the dopamine D₁ receptors and D₂ receptors. In the present study, we investigated the role of D₂ receptors in the nucleus accumbens core in behaviors and signal transduction induced by psychostimulant methamphetamine in mice that were microinjected with adeno-associated virus vectors containing a microRNA (miRNA) sequence for D₂ receptor (adeno-associated virus-miD2r vectors) in the nucleus accumbens core. The adeno-associated virus vectors containing a miRNA sequence for D₂ receptor-treated mice (miD₂r mice) were assessed at a reduction in D₂ r

SUBMITTER: Miyamoto Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4360230 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature