Mice lacking dopamine D4 receptors are supersensitive to ethanol, cocaine, and methamphetamine

Article Abstract:

Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter in brain pathways, and the human dopamine D4 receptor (D4R) has received much attention due to its high affinity for the atypical antipsychotic clozapine and its polymorphic nature. Mutant mice lacking the protein were produced and analyzed to clarify the role of D4R. The mice outperformed wild-type mice on the rotarod, displaying supersensitivity to ethanol, methamphetamine and cocaine. It is proposed that D4R modulates usual, coordinated and drug-stimulated motor behaviours.

Research, Usage, Observations, Motor ability, Motor skills, Mice, mutant strains, Mutant mice, Dopamine receptors

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Dopamine-deficient mice are severely hypoactive, adipsic, and aphagic

Article Abstract:

Mutant mice that are unable to produce any dopamine (DA) show hypoactivity and stop feeding within two weeks of birth, but have normal neurons. The tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene in the mutants was inactivated in the dopaminergic neurons, then activated in the noradrenergic neurons. Neurons that control feeding in the mutants were similar to the neurons in wild-type mice. Treatment of the mutants with L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, encoded by TH, restored normal feeding and growth in mice.

Causes of, Physiological aspects, Dopamine, Hypokinesia

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Identification of intrinsic determinants of midbrain dopamine neurons

Article Abstract:

The homeodomain proteins Lmx1a and Msx1 function as determinants of midbrain dopamine neurons, cells that degenerate in patients with Parkinson's disease, as Lmx1a is sufficient and required to trigger dopamine cell differentiation. Lmx1a and Msx1 are critical intrinsic dopamine-neuron determinants in vivo and suggest that they may be essential tools in cell replacement strategies in Parkinson's disease.

France, Sweden

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