Viral restoration of dopamine to the nucleus accumbens
is sufficient to induce a locomotor response to amphetamine
by
Heusner CL, Hnasko TS, Szczypka MS,
Liu Y, During MJ, Palmiter RD.
Department of Biochemistry,
University of Washington,
98195, Seattle, WA, USA
Brain Res. 2003 Aug 8;980(2):266-74

ABSTRACT

Administration of amphetamine to mice evokes hyperlocomotion. Dopamine deficient (DD) mice, in which tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) has been specifically inactivated in dopaminergic neurons, have a blunted response to amphetamine, indicating that the hyperlocomotive response requires dopamine. Dopamine production can be restored to specific brain regions by using adeno-associated viruses expressing TH and GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GTPCH1). Restoration of dopamine specifically to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of DD mice completely restores the ability of these mice to respond to amphetamine. This response is specific to the dopamine production in the NAc, as restoration of dopamine production to the caudate putamen (CPu) does not fully restore the hyperlocomotive response to amphetamine. These data support previous studies in which accumbal dopamine is required for producing a normal locomotor response to amphetamine and further show that release of dopamine restricted to the NAc is sufficient for this response

Ice
AD/HD
History
Serotonin
Dopamine
Noradrenaline
VTA/glutamate
Self-medication
Worms on speed
Striatal dopamine
The dual deficit model
The nucleus accumbens
Amphetamines for aphasics
Amphetamine and dopamine
The sleep-wakefulness continuum
Amphetamine and the angry mouse
The nucleus accumbens medial shell and core

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