RGS14 modulates locomotor behavior and ERK signaling induced by environmental novelty and cocaine within discrete limbic structures.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

In rodents, exposure to novel environments or psychostimulants promotes locomotion. Indeed, locomotor reactivity to novelty strongly predicts behavioral responses to psychostimulants in animal models of addiction. RGS14 is a plasticity-restricting protein with unique functional domains that enable it to suppress ERK-dependent signaling as well as regulate G protein activity. Although recent studies show that RGS14 is expressed in multiple limbic regions implicated in psychostimulant- and novelty-induced hyperlocomotion, its function has been examined mostly in the context of hippocampal physiology and memory.

Objective

We investigated whether RGS14 modulates novelty- and cocaine-induced locomotion (NIL and CIL, respectively) and neuronal activity.

Methods

We

SUBMITTER: Foster SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8455459 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature