Fronto-temporal-mesolimbic gene expression and heritable differences in amphetamine-disrupted sensorimotor gating in rats.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Differences in sensitivity to the prepulse inhibition (PPI)-disruptive effects of D2-family agonists in Sprague-Dawley (SD) vs. Long Evans (LE) rats are heritable, reflect differential activation of DA signaling in the nucleus accumbens (NAC), and are associated with differences in expression of specific NAC genes. These differences may inform us about the biology of PPI deficits in disorders such as schizophrenia.

Objectives

After confirming these strain-based PPI differences, we measured expression of four genes in NAC and other regions that regulate PPI: medial prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus (VH).

Methods

Startle and PPI were assessed in SD and LE rats administered D-amphetamine (0 vs. 4.5 mg/kg, sc). Two weeks later, brain tissue was processed

SUBMITTER: Swerdlow NR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5215002 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature