Coordinated expression of dopamine receptors in neostriatal medium spiny neurons

Blockade of Intranigral and Systemic D3 Receptors Stimulates Motor Activity in the Rat Promoting a Reciprocal Interaction among Glutamate, Dopamine, and GABA

In vivo activation of dopamine D3 receptors (D3Rs) depresses motor activity. D3Rs are widely expressed in subthalamic, striatal, and dendritic dopaminergic inputs into the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr). In vitro studies showed that nigral D3Rs modulate their neurotransmitter release; thus, it could be that these changes in neurotransmitter levels modify the discharge of nigro-thalamic neurons and, therefore, motor behavior. To determine how the in vitro responses correspond to the in vivo responses, we examined the effect of intra-nigral and systemic blockade of D3Rs in the interstitial content of glutamate, dopamine, and GABA within the SNr using microdialysis coupled to motor activity determinations in freely moving rats. Intranigral unilateral blockade of D3R with GR 103,691 increased glutamate, dopamine, and GABA. Increments correlated with increased ambulatory distance, non-ambulatory activity, and induced contralateral turning. Concomitant blockade of D3R with D1R by perfusion of SCH 23390 reduced the increase of glutamate; prevented the increment of GABA, but not of dopamine; and abolished behavioral effects. Glutamate stimulates dopamine release by NMDA receptors, while blockade with kynurenic acid prevented the increase in dopamine and, in turn, of GABA and glutamate. Finally, systemic administration of D3R selective antagonist U 99194A increased glutamate, dopamine, and GABA in SNr and stimulated motor activity. Blockade of intra-nigral D1R with SCH 23390 prior to systemic U 99194A diminished increases in neurotransmitter levels and locomotor activity. These data highlight the pivotal role of presynaptic nigral D3 and D1R in the control of motor activity and help to explain part of the effects of the in vivo administration of D3R agents.

GABAergic imbalance is normalized by dopamine D1 receptor activation in the striatum contralateral to the cortical injury in motor deficit-recovered rats

RATIONALE

The sensorimotor cortex and the striatum are interconnected by the corticostriatal pathway, suggesting that cortical injury alters the striatal function, which may be modulated by dopamine.

OBJECTIVES

We studied whether the activation of dopamine D₁ receptors (D₁Rs) modulates the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate levels in the striatum of recovered rats at 192 h after cortical injury.

METHODS

The D₁R agonist SKF-38393 (0, 2, 3, or 4 mg/kg) was administered at 24, 48, 96, and 192 h post-injury, and then rats were decapitated to determine GABA and glutamate levels and the levels of D₁R mRNA on both sides of the striatum.

RESULTS

GABAergic imbalance in the striatum contralateral to the injury site was normalized by the administration of the D₁R agonist, but this treatment did not produce a significant effect on glutamate levels, suggesting that glutamate was metabolized into GABA. The administration of SKF-38393 (2 mg/kg) decreased the levels of D₁R mRNA in the striatum contralateral to the injury, and this effect was blocked by the coadministration of the D₁R antagonist SCH-23390 (2 mg/kg). In the striatum ipsilateral to the injury, the D₁R agonist increased the D₁R mRNA levels, an effect that was blocked by SCH-23390.

CONCLUSION

The reversal of the GABAergic imbalance in the striatum contralateral to the cortical injury can be modulated by extrastriatal D₁R activation, and the D₁R agonist-induced increases in the D₁R mRNA levels in the striatum ipsilateral to the injury suggest that the striatum may be necessary to achieve functional recovery.

Selective D2 and D3 receptor antagonists oppositely modulate cocaine responses in mice via distinct postsynaptic mechanisms in nucleus accumbens

The dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) has emerged as a promising pharmacotherapeutic target for the treatment of several diseases including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and substance use disorders. However, studies investigating the D3R's precise role in dopamine neurotransmission or how it may be exploited to modulate responses to drugs of abuse have produced contrasting results, in part because most D3R-targeted compounds often also interact with D2 receptors (D2R). To resolve this issue, we set out to systematically characterize and compare the consequences of selective D2R or D3R antagonists on the behavioral-stimulant properties of cocaine in mice, and to identify putative neurobiological mechanisms underlying their behavior-modifying effects. Pretreatment with the selective D2R antagonist L-741,626 attenuated, while pretreatment with the selective D3R antagonist PG01037 enhanced, the locomotor-activating effects of both acute cocaine administration as well as sensitization following repeated cocaine dosing. While both antagonists potentiated cocaine-induced increases in presynaptic dopamine release, we report for the first time that D3R blockade uniquely facilitated dopamine-mediated excitation of D1-expressing medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens. Collectively, our results demonstrate that selective D3R antagonism potentiates the behavioral-stimulant effects of cocaine in mice, an effect that is in direct opposition to that produced by selective D2R antagonism or nonselective D2-like receptor antagonists, and is likely mediated by facilitating D1-mediated excitation in the nucleus accumbens. These findings provide novel insights into the neuropharmacological actions of D3R antagonists on mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission and their potential utility as pharmacotherapeutics.

High-Frequency Activation of Nucleus Accumbens D1-MSNs Drives Excitatory Potentiation on D2-MSNs

Subtypes of nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons (MSNs) promote dichotomous outcomes in motivated behaviors. However, recent reports indicate enhancing activity of either nucleus accumbens (NAc) core MSN subtype augments reward, suggesting coincident MSN activity may underlie this outcome. Here, we report a collateral excitation mechanism in which high-frequency, NAc core dopamine 1 (D1)-MSN activation causes long-lasting potentiation of excitatory transmission (LLP) on dopamine receptor 2 (D2)-MSNs. Our mechanistic investigation demonstrates that this form of plasticity requires release of the excitatory peptide substance P from D1-MSNs and robust cholinergic interneuron activation through neurokinin receptor stimulation. We also reveal that D2-MSN LLP requires muscarinic 1 receptor activation, intracellular calcium signaling, and GluR2-lacking AMPAR insertion. This study uncovers a mechanism for shaping NAc core activity through the transfer of excitatory information from D1-MSNs to D2-MSNs and may provide a means for altering goal-directed behavior through coordinated MSN activity.

Role of basal ganglia neurocircuitry in the pathology of psychiatric disorders

Over the last few decades, advances in human and animal-based techniques have greatly enhanced our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders. Many of these studies have indicated connectivity between and alterations within basal ganglia structures to be particularly pertinent to the development of symptoms associated with several of these disorders. Here we summarize the connectivity, molecular composition, and function of sites within basal ganglia neurocircuits. Then we review the current literature from both human and animal studies concerning altered basal ganglia function in five common psychiatric disorders: obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance-related and addiction disorders, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia. Finally, we present a model based upon the findings of these studies that highlights the striatum as a particularly attractive target for restoring normal function to basal ganglia neurocircuits altered within psychiatric disorder patients.

The centromedian nucleus: Anatomy, physiology, and clinical implications

Of all the truncothalamic nuclei, the centromedian-parafascicular nuclei complex (CM-Pf) is the largest and is considered the prototypic thalamic projection system. Located among the caudal intralaminar thalamic nuclei, the CM-Pf been described by Jones as "the forgotten components of the great loop of connections joining the cerebral cortex via the basal ganglia". The CM, located lateral relative to the Pf, is a major source of direct input to the striatum and also has connections to other, distinct region of the basal ganglia as well as the brainstem and cortex. Functionally, the CM participates in sensorimotor coordination, cognition (e.g. attention, arousal), and pain processing. The role of CM as 'gate control' function by propagating only salient stimuli during attention-demanding tasks has been proposed. Given its rich connectivity and diverse physiologic role, recent studies have explored the CM as potential target for neuromodulation therapy for Tourette syndrome, Parkinson's disease, generalized epilepsy, intractable neuropathic pain, and in restoring consciousness. This comprehensive review summarizes the structural and functional anatomy of the CM and its physiologic role with a focus on clinical implications.

Disentangling the diverse roles of dopamine D2 receptors in striatal function and behavior

Dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) mediate many of the actions of dopamine in the striatum, ranging from movement to the effortful pursuit of reward. Yet despite significant advances in linking D2Rs to striatal functions with pharmacological and genetic strategies in animals, how dopamine orchestrates its myriad actions on different cell populations -each expressing D2Rs- remains unclear. Furthermore, brain imaging and genetic studies in humans have consistently associated striatal D2R alterations with various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, but how and which D2Rs are involved in each case is poorly understood. Therefore, a critical first step is to engage in a refined and systematic investigation of the impact of D2R function on specific striatal cells, circuits, and behaviors. Here, I will review recent efforts, primarily in animal models, aimed at unlocking the complex and heterogeneous roles of D2Rs in striatum.

Dopamine and addiction: what have we learned from 40 years of research

Among the neurotransmitters involved in addiction, dopamine (DA) is clearly the best known. The critical role of DA in addiction is supported by converging evidence that has been accumulated in the last 40 years. In the present review, first we describe the dopaminergic system in terms of connectivity, functioning and involvement in reward processes. Second, we describe the functional, structural, and molecular changes induced by drugs within the DA system in terms of neuronal activity, synaptic plasticity and transcriptional and molecular adaptations. Third, we describe how genetic mouse models have helped characterizing the role of DA in addiction. Fourth, we describe the involvement of the DA system in the vulnerability to addiction and the interesting case of addiction DA replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease. Finally, we describe how the DA system has been targeted to treat patients suffering from addiction and the result obtained in clinical settings and we discuss how these different lines of evidence have been instrumental in shaping our understanding of the physiopathology of drug addiction.

Cannabinoid dependence induces sustained changes in GABA release in the globus pallidus without affecting dopamine release in the dorsal striatum: A dual microdialysis probe study

A dual probe microdialysis study was designed to characterize GABA and dopamine (DA) release in the basal ganglia of cannabinoid-dependent Wistar rats. Whereas chronic administration of the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212 (WIN) resulted in increased basal GABA release, the D2 agonist receptor-mediated control of GABA and DA release elicited by quinpirole was similar in both cannabinoid-dependent and non dependent animals. However, quinpirole did induce a greater number of more stereotypies in cannabinoid-dependent animals, indicating a dysregulated behavioral response.

Neuronal mechanisms mediating pathological reward-related behaviors: A focus on silent synapses in the nucleus accumbens

The compulsive drive to seek drugs despite negative consequences relies heavily on drug-induced alterations that occur within the reward neurocircuit. These alterations include changes in neuromodulator and neurotransmitter systems that ultimately lock behaviors into an inflexible and permanent state. To provide clinicians with improved treatment options, researchers are trying to identify, as potential targets of therapeutic intervention, the neural mechanisms mediating an "addictive-like state". Here, we discuss how drug-induced generation of silent synapses in the nucleus accumbens may be a potential therapeutic target capable of reversing drug-related behaviors.

Differential changes to D1 and D2 medium spiny neurons in the 12-month-old Q175+/- mouse model of Huntington's Disease

Huntington's Disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by deleterious expansion of CAG repeats in the Huntingtin gene and production of neurotoxic mutant Huntingtin protein (mHTT). The key pathological feature of HD is a profound degeneration of the striatum and a loss of cortical volume. The initial loss of indirect pathway (D2) medium spiny neuron (MSN) projections in early stages of HD, followed by a loss of direct pathway (D1) projections in advanced stages has important implications for the trajectory of motor and cognitive dysfunction in HD, but is not yet understood. Mouse models of HD have yielded important information on the effects and mechanisms of mHTT toxicity; however, whether these models recapitulate differential vulnerability of D1 vs. D2 MSNs is unknown. Here, we employed 12-month-old Q175+/- x D2-eGFP mice to examine the detailed structural and functional properties of D1 vs. D2 MSNs. While both D1 and D2 MSNs exhibited increased input resistance, depolarized resting membrane potentials and action potential threshold, only D1 MSNs showed reduced rheobase, action potential amplitude and frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents. Furthermore, D1 but not D2 MSNs showed marked proliferative changes to their dendritic arbors and reductions in spine density. Immunohistochemical assessment showed no loss of glutamatergic afferent inputs from cortical and subcortical sources onto identified D1 and D2 MSNs. Computational models constrained by empirical data predict that the increased dendritic complexity in Q175+/- D1 MSNs likely leads to greater dendritic filtering and attenuation of signals propagating to the soma from the dendrites. Together these findings reveal that, by twelve months, D1 and D2 MSNs exhibit distinctive responses to the presence of mHTT in this important mouse model of HD. This further highlights the need to incorporate findings from D1 and D2 MSNs independently in the context of HD models.

The Thyroid Hormone-target Gene Rhes a Novel Crossroad for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders: New Insights from Animal Models

Ras homolog enriched in striatum (Rhes) is predominantly expressed in the corpus striatum. Rhes mRNA is localized in virtually all dopamine D1 and D2 receptor-bearing medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs), and cholinergic interneurons of striatum. Early studies in rodents showed that Rhes is developmentally regulated by thyroid hormone, as well as by dopamine innervation in adult rat, monkey and human brains. At cellular level, Rhes interferes with adenosine A2A- and dopamine D1 receptor-dependent cAMP/PKA pathway, upstream of the activation of the heterotrimeric G protein complex. Besides its involvement in GPCR-mediated signaling, Rhes modulates Akt pathway activation, acts as E3-ligase of mutant huntingtin, whose sumoylation accounts for neurotoxicity in Huntington's disease, and physically interacts with Beclin-1, suggesting its potential involvement in autophagy-related cellular events. In addition, this protein can also bind to and activate striatal mTORC1, one of the key players in l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in rodent models of Parkinson's disease. Accordingly, lack of Rhes attenuated such motor disturbances in 6-OHDA-lesioned Rhes knockout mice. In support of its role in MSN-dependent functions, several studies documented that mutant animals displayed alterations in striatum-related phenotypes reminiscent of psychiatric illness in humans, including deficits in prepulse inhibition of startle reflex and, most interestingly, a striking enhancement of behavioral responses elicited by caffeine, phencyclidine or amphetamine. Overall, these data suggest that Rhes modulates molecular and biochemical events underlying striatal functioning, both in physiological and pathological conditions.

Dopamine D1 receptor activation maintains motor coordination and balance in rats

Dopamine (DA) modulates motor coordination, and its depletion, as in Parkinson's disease, produces motor impairment. The basal ganglia, cerebellum and cerebral cortex are interconnected, have functional roles in motor coordination, and possess dopamine D₁ receptors (D₁Rs), which are expressed at a particularly high density in the basal ganglia. In this study, we examined whether the activation of D₁Rs modulates motor coordination and balance in the rat using a beam-walking test that has previously been used to detect motor coordination deficits. The systemic administration of the D₁R agonist SKF-38393 at 2, 3, or 4 mg/kg did not alter the beam-walking scores, but the subsequent administration of the D₁R antagonist SCH-23390 at 1 mg/kg did produce deficits in motor coordination, which were reversed by the full agonist SKF-82958. The co-administration of SKF-38393 and SCH-23390 did not alter the beam-walking scores compared with the control group, but significantly prevented the increase in beam-walking scores induced by SCH-23390. The effect of the D₁R agonist to prevent and reverse the effect of the D₁R antagonist in beam-walking scores is an indicator that the function of D₁Rs is necessary to maintain motor coordination and balance in rats. Our results support that D₁Rs mediate the SCH-23390-induced deficit in motor coordination.

Protein complexes as psychiatric and neurological drug targets

The need for improved medications for psychiatric and neurological disorders is clear. Difficulties in finding such drugs demands that all strategic means be utilized for their invention. The discovery of forebrain specific AMPA receptor antagonists, which selectively block the specific combinations of principal and auxiliary subunits present in forebrain regions but spare targets in the cerebellum, was recently disclosed. This discovery raised the possibility that other auxiliary protein systems could be utilized to help identify new medicines. Discussion of the TARP-dependent AMPA receptor antagonists has been presented elsewhere. Here we review the diversity of protein complexes of neurotransmitter receptors in the nervous system to highlight the broad range of protein/protein drug targets. We briefly outline the structural basis of protein complexes as drug targets for G-protein-coupled receptors, voltage-gated ion channels, and ligand-gated ion channels. This review highlights heterodimers, subunit-specific receptor constructions, multiple signaling pathways, and auxiliary proteins with an emphasis on the later. We conclude that the use of auxiliary proteins in chemical compound screening could enhance the detection of specific, targeted drug searches and lead to novel and improved medicines for psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Activation of Dopamine D1-D2 Receptor Complex Attenuates Cocaine Reward and Reinstatement of Cocaine-Seeking through Inhibition of DARPP-32, ERK, and ΔFosB

A significant subpopulation of neurons in rat nucleus accumbens (NAc) coexpress dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, which can form a D1-D2 receptor complex, but their relevance in addiction is not known. The existence of the D1-D2 heteromer in the striatum of rat and monkey was established using in situ PLA, in situ FRET and co-immunoprecipitation. In rat, D1-D2 receptor heteromer activation led to place aversion and abolished cocaine CPP and locomotor sensitization, cocaine intravenous self-administration and reinstatement of cocaine seeking, as well as inhibited sucrose preference and abolished the motivation to seek palatable food. Selective disruption of this heteromer by a specific interfering peptide induced reward-like effects and enhanced the above cocaine-induced effects, including at a subthreshold dose of cocaine. The D1-D2 heteromer activated Cdk5/Thr75-DARPP-32 and attenuated cocaine-induced pERK and ΔFosB accumulation, together with inhibition of cocaine-enhanced local field potentials in NAc, blocking thus the signaling pathway activated by cocaine: D1R/cAMP/PKA/Thr34-DARPP-32/pERK with ΔFosB accumulation. In conclusion, our results show that the D1-D2 heteromer exerted tonic inhibitory control of basal natural and cocaine reward, and therefore initiates a fundamental physiologic function that limits the liability to develop cocaine addiction.

Cell-Type-Specific Epigenetic Editing at the Fosb Gene Controls Susceptibility to Social Defeat Stress

Chronic social defeat stress regulates the expression of Fosb in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) to promote the cell-type-specific accumulation of ΔFosB in the two medium spiny neuron (MSN) subtypes in this region. ΔFosB is selectively induced in D1-MSNs in the NAc of resilient mice, and in D2-MSNs of susceptible mice. However, little is known about the consequences of such selective induction, particularly in D2-MSNs. This study examined how cell-type-specific control of the endogenous Fosb gene in NAc regulates susceptibility to social defeat stress. Histone post-translational modifications (HPTMs) were targeted specifically to Fosb using engineered zinc-finger proteins (ZFPs). Fosb-ZFPs were fused to either the transcriptional repressor, G9a, which promotes histone methylation or the transcriptional activator, p65, which promotes histone acetylation. These ZFPs were expressed in D1- vs D2-MSNs using Cre-dependent viral expression in the NAc of mice transgenic for Cre recombinase in these MSN subtypes. We found that stress susceptibility is oppositely regulated by the specific cell type and HPTM targeted. We report that Fosb-targeted histone acetylation in D2-MSNs or histone methylation in D1-MSNs promotes a stress-susceptible, depressive-like phenotype, while histone methylation in D2-MSNs or histone acetylation in D1-MSNs increases resilience to social stress as quantified by social interaction behavior and sucrose preference. This work presents the first demonstration of cell- and gene-specific targeting of histone modifications, which model naturally occurring transcriptional phenomena that control social defeat stress behavior. This epigenetic-editing approach, which recapitulates physiological changes in gene expression, reveals clear differences in the social defeat phenotype induced by Fosb gene manipulation in MSN subtypes.

GABA and Glutamate Synaptic Coadaptations to Chronic Ethanol in the Striatum

Alcohol (ethanol) is a widely used and abused drug with approximately 90% of adults over the age of 18 consuming alcohol at some point in their lifetime. Alcohol exerts its actions through multiple neurotransmitter systems within the brain, most notably the GABAergic and glutamatergic systems. Alcohol's actions on GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission have been suggested to underlie the acute behavioral effects of ethanol. The striatum is the primary input nucleus of the basal ganglia that plays a role in motor and reward systems. The effect of ethanol on GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission within striatal circuitry has been thought to underlie ethanol taking, seeking, withdrawal and relapse. This chapter reviews the effects of ethanol on GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission, highlighting the dynamic changes in striatal circuitry from acute to chronic exposure and withdrawal.

Inflammation alters AMPA-stimulated calcium responses in dorsal striatal D2 but not D1 spiny projection neurons

Neuroinflammation precedes neuronal loss in striatal neurodegenerative diseases and can be exacerbated by the release of proinflammatory molecules by microglia. These molecules can affect trafficking of AMPARs. The preferential trafficking of calcium-permeable versus impermeable AMPARs can result in disruptions of [Ca2+ ]i and alter cellular functions. In striatal neurodegenerative diseases, changes in [Ca2+ ]i and L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) have been reported. Therefore, this study sought to determine whether a proinflammatory environment alters AMPA-stimulated [Ca2+ ]i through calcium-permeable AMPARs and/or L-type VGCCs in dopamine-2- and dopamine-1-expressing striatal spiny projection neurons (D2 and D1 SPNs) in the dorsal striatum. Mice expressing the calcium indicator protein, GCaMP in D2 or D1 SPNs, were utilized for calcium imaging. Microglial activation was assessed by morphology analyses. To induce inflammation, acute mouse striatal slices were incubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here we report that LPS treatment potentiated AMPA responses only in D2 SPNs. When a nonspecific VGCC blocker was included, we observed a decrease of AMPA-stimulated calcium fluorescence in D2 but not D1 SPNs. The remaining agonist-induced [Ca2+ ]i was mediated by calcium-permeable AMPARs because the responses were completely blocked by a selective calcium-permeable AMPAR antagonist. We used isradipine, the highly selective L-type VGCC antagonist to determine the role of L-type VGCCs in SPNs treated with LPS. Isradipine decreased AMPA-stimulated responses selectively in D2 SPNs after LPS treatment. Our findings suggest that dorsal striatal D2 SPNs are specifically targeted in proinflammatory conditions and that L-type VGCCs and calcium-permeable AMPARs are important mediators of this effect.

Striatal synapses, circuits, and Parkinson's disease

The striatum is a hub in the basal ganglia circuitry controlling goal directed actions and habits. The loss of its dopaminergic (DAergic) innervation in Parkinson's disease (PD) disrupts the ability of the two principal striatal projection systems to respond appropriately to cortical and thalamic signals, resulting in the hypokinetic features of the disease. New tools to study brain circuitry have led to significant advances in our understanding of striatal circuits and how they adapt in PD models. This short review summarizes some of these recent studies and the gaps that remain to be filled.

Dysregulation of striatal projection neurons in Parkinson's disease

The loss of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) is the primary cause of motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD), but the underlying striatal mechanisms remain unclear. In spite of abundant literature portraying structural, biochemical and plasticity changes of striatal projection neurons (SPNs), in the past there has been a data vacuum from the natural human disease and its close model in non-human primates. Recently, single-cell recordings in advanced parkinsonian primates have generated new insights into the altered function of SPNs. Currently, there are also human data that provide direct evidence of profoundly dysregulated SPN activity in PD. Here, we review primate recordings that are impacting our understanding of the striatal dysfunction after DA loss, particularly through the analysis of physiologic correlates of parkinsonian motor behaviors. In contrast to recordings in rodents, data obtained in primates and patients demonstrate similar major abnormalities of the spontaneous SPN firing in the alert parkinsonian state. Furthermore, these studies also show altered SPN responses to DA replacement in the advanced parkinsonian state. Clearly, there is yet much to learn about the striatal discharges in PD, but studies using primate models are contributing unique information to advance our understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Loss and remodeling of striatal dendritic spines in Parkinson's disease: from homeostasis to maladaptive plasticity?

In Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and animal models of PD, the progressive degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) projection leads to two major changes in the morphology of striatal projection neurons (SPNs), i.e., a profound loss of dendritic spines and the remodeling of axospinous glutamatergic synapses. Striatal spine loss is an early event tightly associated with the extent of striatal DA denervation, but not the severity of parkinsonian motor symptoms, suggesting that striatal spine pruning might be a form of homeostatic plasticity that compensates for the loss of striatal DA innervation and the resulting dysregulation of corticostriatal glutamatergic transmission. On the other hand, the remodeling of axospinous corticostriatal and thalamostriatal glutamatergic synapses might represent a form of late maladaptive plasticity that underlies changes in the strength and plastic properties of these afferents and the resulting increased firing and bursting activity of striatal SPNs in the parkinsonian state. There is also evidence that these abnormal synaptic connections might contribute to the pathophysiology of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. Despite the significant advances made in this field over the last thirty years, many controversial issues remain about the striatal SPN subtypes affected, the role of spine changes in the altered activity of SPNs in the parkinsonisn state, and the importance of striatal spine plasticity in the pathophysiology of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. In this review, we will examine the current state of knowledge of these issues, discuss the limitations of the animal models used to address some of these questions, and assess the relevance of data from animal models to the human-diseased condition.

Multireceptor fingerprints in progressive supranuclear palsy

Background

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) with a frontal presentation, characterized by cognitive deficits and behavioral changes, has been recognized as an early clinical picture, distinct from the classical so-called Richardson and parkinsonism presentations. The midcingulate cortex is associated with executive and attention tasks and has consistently been found to be impaired in imaging studies of patients with PSP. The aim of the present study was to determine alterations in neurotransmission underlying the pathophysiology of PSP, as well as their significance for clinically identifiable PSP subgroups.

Methods

In vitro receptor autoradiography was used to quantify densities of 20 different receptors in the caudate nucleus and midcingulate area 24' of patients with PSP (n = 16) and age- and sex-matched control subjects (n = 14).

Results

Densities of γ-aminobutyric acid type B, peripheral benzodiazepine, serotonin receptor type 2, and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors were significantly higher in area 24′ of patients with PSP, where tau impairment was stronger than in the caudate nucleus. Kainate and nicotinic cholinergic receptor densities were significantly lower, and adenosine receptor type 1 (A₁) receptors significantly higher, in the caudate nucleus of patients with PSP. Receptor fingerprints also segregated PSP subgroups when clinical parameters such as occurrence of frontal presentation and tau pathology severity were taken into consideration.

Conclusions

We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, that kainate and A₁ receptors are altered in PSP and that clinically identifiable PSP subgroups differ at the neurochemical level. Numerous receptors were altered in the midcingulate cortex, further suggesting that it may prove to be a key region in PSP. Finally, we add to the evidence that nondopaminergic systems play a role in the pathophysiology of PSP, thus highlighting potential novel treatment strategies.

Morphine responsiveness to thermal pain stimuli is aging-associated and mediated by dopamine D1 and D3 receptor interactions

Morphine actions involve the dopamine (DA) D1 and D3 receptor systems (D1R and D3R), and the responses to morphine change with age. We here explored in differently aged wild-type (WT) and D3R knockout mice (D3KO) the interactions of the D1R/D3R systems with morphine in vivo at three different times of the animals' lifespan (2months, 1year, and 2years). We found that: (1) thermal pain withdrawal reflexes follow an aging-associated phenotype, with relatively longer latencies at 2months and shorter latencies at 1year, (2) over the same age range, a dysfunction of the D3R subtype decreases reflex latencies more than aging alone, (3) morphine altered reflex responses in a dose-dependent manner in WT animals and changed at its higher dose the phenotype of the D3KO animals from a morphine-resistant state to a morphine-responsive state, (4) block of D1R function had an aging-dependent effect on thermal withdrawal latencies in control animals that, in old animals, was stronger than that of low-dose morphine. Lastly, (5) block of D1R function in young D3KO animals mimicked the behavioral phenotype observed in the aged WT. Our proof-of-concept data from the rodent animal model suggest that, with age, block of D1R function may be considered as an alternative to the use of morphine, to modulate the response to painful stimuli.

Striatal Neurons Expressing D1 and D2 Receptors are Morphologically Distinct and Differently Affected by Dopamine Denervation in Mice

The loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s disease induces a reduction in the number of dendritic spines on medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the striatum expressing D₁ or D₂ dopamine receptor. Consequences on MSNs expressing both receptors (D₁/D₂ MSNs) are currently unknown. We looked for changes induced by dopamine denervation in the density, regional distribution and morphological features of D₁/D₂ MSNs, by comparing 6-OHDA-lesioned double BAC transgenic mice (Drd1a-tdTomato/Drd2-EGFP) to sham-lesioned animals. D₁/D₂ MSNs are uniformly distributed throughout the dorsal striatum (1.9% of MSNs). In contrast, they are heterogeneously distributed and more numerous in the ventral striatum (14.6% in the shell and 7.3% in the core). Compared to D₁ and D₂ MSNs, D₁/D₂ MSNs are endowed with a smaller cell body and a less profusely arborized dendritic tree with less dendritic spines. The dendritic spine density of D₁/D₂ MSNs, but also of D₁ and D₂ MSNs, is significantly reduced in 6-OHDA-lesioned mice. In contrast to D₁ and D₂ MSNs, the extent of dendritic arborization of D₁/D₂ MSNs appears unaltered in 6-OHDA-lesioned mice. Our data indicate that D₁/D₂ MSNs in the mouse striatum form a distinct neuronal population that is affected differently by dopamine deafferentation that characterizes Parkinson’s disease.

Effects of Immune Activation during Early or Late Gestation on N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Measures in Adult Rat Offspring

BACKGROUND

Glutamatergic receptor [N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)] alterations within cortex, hippocampus, and striatum are linked to schizophrenia pathology. Maternal immune activation (MIA) is an environmental risk factor for the development of schizophrenia in offspring. In rodents, gestational timing of MIA may result in distinct behavioral outcomes in adulthood, but how timing of MIA may impact the nature and extent of NMDAR-related changes in brain is not known. We hypothesize that NMDAR-related molecular changes in rat cortex, striatum, and hippocampus are induced by MIA and are dependent on the timing of gestational inflammation and sex of the offspring.

METHODS

Wistar dams were treated the with viral mimic, polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid (polyI:C), or vehicle on either gestational day 10 or 19. Fresh-frozen coronal brain sections were collected from offspring between postnatal day 63-91. Autoradiographic binding was used to infer levels of the NMDAR channel, and NR2A and NR2B subunits in cortex [cingulate (Cg), motor, auditory], hippocampus (dentate gyrus, cornu ammonis area 3, cornu ammonis area 1), and striatum [dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens core, and nucleus accumbens shell (AS)]. NR1 and NR2A mRNA levels were measured by in situ hybridization in cortex, hippocampus, and striatum in male offspring only.

RESULTS

In the total sample, NMDAR channel binding was elevated in the Cg of polyI:C offspring. NR2A binding was elevated, while NR2B binding was unchanged, in all brain regions of polyI:C offspring overall. Male, but not female, polyI:C offspring exhibited increased NMDAR channel and NR2A binding in the striatum overall, and increased NR2A binding in the cortex overall. Male polyI:C offspring exhibited increased NR1 mRNA in the AS, and increased NR2A mRNA in cortex and subregions of the hippocampus.

CONCLUSION

MIA may alter glutamatergic signaling in cortical and hippocampal regions via alterations in NMDAR indices; however, this was independent of gestational timing. Male MIA offspring have exaggerated changes in NMDAR compared to females in both the cortex and striatum. The MIA-induced increase in NR2A may decrease brain plasticity and contribute to the exacerbated behavioral changes reported in males and indicate that the brains of male offspring are more susceptible to long-lasting changes in glutamate neurotransmission induced by developmental inflammation.

Dopamine D1 and D3 receptor interactions in cocaine reward and seeking in rats

RATIONALE

Animal research has demonstrated a role of dopamine D1 and D3 receptors in cocaine reward and seeking.

PURPOSE AND METHODS

Here, we investigated the potential interaction of these two dopamine receptors in cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking, cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP), and cocaine self-administration in rats.

RESULTS

The co-administration of a D3 receptor antagonist, NGB 2904 and a D1 partial agonist, SKF 77434, of doses which when administered individually produced no significant effects, prior to reinstatement or CPP tests significantly reduced lever pressing and time spent in the cocaine-paired environment, suggesting synergistic effects of the combined compounds on cocaine seeking. When given to rats self-administering cocaine under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement doses of NGB 2904 which were ineffective alone significantly enhanced the break point-reducing effects of SKF 77434.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the combined treatment with a D1 receptor partial agonist and D3 receptor antagonist produces robust decreases in cocaine seeking and reward. This suggests an interaction between dopamine D1 and D3 receptors in cocaine-related behaviors.

The role of the human globus pallidus in Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by pronounced pathology of the basal ganglia, with numerous studies documenting the pattern of striatal neurodegeneration in the human brain. However, a principle target of striatal outflow, the globus pallidus (GP), has received limited attention in comparison, despite being a core component of the basal ganglia. The external segment (GPe) is a major output of the dorsal striatum, connecting widely to other basal ganglia nuclei via the indirect motor pathway. The internal segment (GPi) is a final output station of both the direct and indirect motor pathways of the basal ganglia. The ventral pallidum (VP), in contrast, is a primary output of the limbic ventral striatum. Currently, there is a lack of consensus in the literature regarding the extent of GPe and GPi neurodegeneration in HD, with a conflict between pallidal neurons being preserved, and pallidal neurons being lost. In addition, no current evidence considers the fate of the VP in HD, despite it being a key structure involved in reward and motivation. Understanding the involvement of these structures in HD will help to determine their involvement in basal ganglia pathway dysfunction in the disease. A clear understanding of the impact of striatal projection loss on the main neurons that receive striatal input, the pallidal neurons, will aid in the understanding of disease pathogenesis. In addition, a clearer picture of pallidal involvement in HD may contribute to providing a morphological basis to the considerable variability in the types of motor, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms in HD. This review aims to highlight the importance of the globus pallidus, a critical component of the cortical-basal ganglia circuits, and its role in the pathogenesis of HD. This review also summarizes the current literature relating to human studies of the globus pallidus in HD.

Validation of an improved scale for rating l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in the mouse and effects of specific dopamine receptor antagonists

Rodent models of l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID) are essential to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment options. Ratings of abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) are used to capture both qualitative and quantitative features of dyskinetic behaviors. Thus far, validated rating scales for the mouse have anchored the definition of severity to the time during which AIMs are present. Here we have asked whether the severity of axial, limb, and orolingual AIMs can be objectively assessed with scores based on movement amplitude. Mice sustained 6-OHDA lesions in the medial forebrain bundle and were treated with l-DOPA (3-6mg/kg/day) until they developed stable AIMs scores. Two independent investigators rated AIM severity using both the validated time-based scale and a novel amplitude scale, evaluating the degree of deviation of dyskinetic body parts relative to their resting position. The amplitude scale yielded a high degree of consistency both within- and between raters. Thus, time-based scores, amplitude scores, and a combination of the two ('global AIM scores') were applied to compare antidyskinetic effects produced by amantadine and by the following subtype-specific DA receptor antagonists: SCH23390 (D1/D5), Raclopride (D2/D3), PG01037 (D3), L-745,870 (D4), and VU6004461 (D4). SCH23390 and Raclopride produced similarly robust reductions in both time-based scores and amplitude scores, while PG01037 and L-745,870 had more partial effects. Interestingly, a novel and highly brain penetrable D4 receptor antagonist (VU6004461) markedly attenuated both time-based and amplitude scores without diminishing the general motor stimulant effect of l-DOPA. In summary, our results show that a dyskinesia scale combining a time dimension with an amplitude dimension ('global AIMs') is more sensitive than unidimensional scales. Moreover, the antidyskinetic effects produced by two chemically distinct D4 antagonists identify the D4 receptor as a potential future target for the treatment of LID.

Nucleus Accumbens Shell and mPFC but Not Insula Orexin-1 Receptors Promote Excessive Alcohol Drinking

Addiction to alcohol remains a major social and economic problem, in part because of the high motivation for alcohol that humans exhibit and the hazardous binge intake this promotes. Orexin-1-type receptors (OX1Rs) promote reward intake under conditions of strong drives for reward, including excessive alcohol intake. While systemic modulation of OX1Rs can alter alcohol drinking, the brain regions that mediate this OX1R enhancement of excessive drinking remain unknown. Given the importance of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and anterior insular cortex (aINS) in driving many addictive behaviors, including OX1Rs within these regions, we examined the importance of OX1Rs in these regions on excessive alcohol drinking in C57BL/6 mice during limited-access alcohol drinking in the dark cycle. Inhibition of OX1Rs with the widely used SB-334867 within the medial NAc Shell (mNAsh) significantly reduced drinking of alcohol, with no effect on saccharin intake, and no effect on alcohol consumption when infused above the mNAsh. In contrast, intra-mNAsh infusion of the orexin-2 receptor TCS-OX2-29 had no impact on alcohol drinking. In addition, OX1R inhibition within the aINS had no effect on excessive drinking, which was surprising given the importance of aINS-NAc circuits in promoting alcohol consumption and the role for aINS OX1Rs in driving nicotine intake. However, OX1R inhibition within the mPFC did reduce alcohol drinking, indicating cortical OXR involvement in promoting intake. Also, in support of the critical role for mNAsh OX1Rs, SB within the mNAsh also significantly reduced operant alcohol self-administration in rats. Finally, orexin ex vivo enhanced firing in mNAsh neurons from alcohol-drinking mice, with no effect on evoked EPSCs or input resistance; a similar orexin increase in firing without a change in input resistance was observed in alcohol-naïve mice. Taken together, our results suggest that OX1Rs within the mNAsh and mPFC, but not the aINS, play a central role in driving excessive alcohol drinking.

Dopamine Gene Profiling to Predict Impulse Control and Effects of Dopamine Agonist Ropinirole

Dopamine agonists can impair inhibitory control and cause impulse control disorders for those with Parkinson disease (PD), although mechanistically this is not well understood. In this study, we hypothesized that the extent of such drug effects on impulse control is related to specific dopamine gene polymorphisms. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed to examine the effect of single doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg of the dopamine agonist ropinirole on impulse control in healthy adults of typical age for PD onset. Impulse control was measured by stop signal RT on a response inhibition task and by an index of impulsive decision-making on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task. A dopamine genetic risk score quantified basal dopamine neurotransmission from the influence of five genes: catechol-O-methyltransferase, dopamine transporter, and those encoding receptors D1, D2, and D3. With placebo, impulse control was better for the high versus low genetic risk score groups. Ropinirole modulated impulse control in a manner dependent on genetic risk score. For the lower score group, both doses improved response inhibition (decreased stop signal RT) whereas the lower dose reduced impulsiveness in decision-making. Conversely, the higher score group showed a trend for worsened response inhibition on the lower dose whereas both doses increased impulsiveness in decision-making. The implications of the present findings are that genotyping can be used to predict impulse control and whether it will improve or worsen with the administration of dopamine agonists.

Activation of D2 dopamine receptor-expressing neurons in the nucleus accumbens increases motivation

Striatal dopamine receptor D1-expressing neurons have been classically associated with positive reinforcement and reward, whereas D2 neurons are associated with negative reinforcement and aversion. Here we demonstrate that the pattern of activation of D1 and D2 neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) predicts motivational drive, and that optogenetic activation of either neuronal population enhances motivation in mice. Using a different approach in rats, we further show that activating NAc D2 neurons increases cue-induced motivational drive in control animals and in a model that presents anhedonia and motivational deficits; conversely, optogenetic inhibition of D2 neurons decreases motivation. Our results suggest that the classic view of D1-D2 functional antagonism does not hold true for all dimensions of reward-related behaviours, and that D2 neurons may play a more prominent pro-motivation role than originally anticipated.

Dissociable electrophysiological subprocesses during response inhibition are differentially modulated by dopamine D1 and D2 receptors

Action control is achieved through a multitude of cognitive processes. One of them is the ability to inhibit responses, for which the dopaminergic systems is known to play an important role. Many lines of psychophysiological research substantiate that two distinct response inhibition subprocesses exist, but it has remained elusive whether they can be attributed to distinct neurobiological factors governing the dopaminergic system. We, therefore, investigated this question by examining the effects of DRD1 (rs4532) and DRD2 (rs6277) receptor polymorphisms on electrophysiological correlates of response inhibition subprocesses (i.e., Nogo-N2 and Nogo-P3) in 195 healthy human subjects with a standard Go/Nogo task. The results show that response inhibition performance at a behavioral level is affected by DRD1 and DRD2 receptor variation. However, from an electrophysiological point of view these effects emerge via different mechanisms selectively affected by DRD1 and DRD2 receptor variation. While the D1 receptor system is associated with pre-motor inhibition electrophysiological correlates of response inhibition processes (Nogo-N2), the D2 receptor system is associated with electrophysiological correlates of outcome evaluation processes. Dissociable cognitive-neurophysiological subprocesses of response inhibition are hence attributable to distinct dopamine receptor systems.

Ethanol Disinhibits Dorsolateral Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons Through Activation of A Presynaptic Delta Opioid Receptor

The dorsolateral striatum mediates habit formation, which is expedited by exposure to alcohol. Across species, alcohol exposure disinhibits the DLS by dampening GABAergic transmission onto this structure's principal medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs), providing a potential mechanistic basis for habitual alcohol drinking. However, the molecular and circuit components underlying this disinhibition remain unknown. To examine this, we used a combination of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and optogenetics to demonstrate that ethanol potently depresses both MSN- and fast-spiking interneuron (FSI)-MSN GABAergic synaptic transmission in the DLS. Concentrating on the powerfully inhibitory FSI-MSN synapse, we further show that acute exposure of ethanol (50 mM) to striatal slices activates delta opioid receptors that reside on FSI axon terminals and negatively couple to adenylyl cyclase to induce a long-term depression of GABA release onto both direct and indirect pathway MSNs. These findings elucidate a mechanism through which ethanol may globally disinhibit the DLS.

G protein-coupled receptor kinases as regulators of dopamine receptor functions

Actions of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain are mediated by dopamine receptors that belong to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Mammals have five dopamine receptor subtypes, D1 through D5. D1 and D5 couple to Gs/olf and activate adenylyl cyclase, whereas D2, D3, and D4 couple to Gi/o and inhibit it. Most GPCRs upon activation by an agonist are phosphorylated by GPCR kinases (GRKs). The GRK phosphorylation makes receptors high-affinity binding partners for arrestin proteins. Arrestin binding to active phosphorylated receptors stops further G protein activation and promotes receptor internalization, recycling or degradation, thereby regulating their signaling and trafficking. Four non- visual GRKs are expressed in striatal neurons. Here we describe known effects of individual GRKs on dopamine receptors in cell culture and in the two in vivo models of dopamine-mediated signaling: behavioral response to psychostimulants and L-DOPA- induced dyskinesia. Dyskinesia, associated with dopamine super-sensitivity of striatal neurons, is a debilitating side effect of L-DOPA therapy in Parkinson's disease. In vivo, GRK subtypes show greater receptor specificity than in vitro or in cultured cells. Overexpression, knockdown, and knockout of individual GRKs, particularly GRK2 and GRK6, have differential effects on signaling of dopamine receptor subtypes in the brain. Furthermore, deletion of GRK isoforms in select striatal neuronal types differentially affects psychostimulant-induced behaviors. In addition, anti-dyskinetic effect of GRK3 does not require its kinase activity: it is mediated by the binding of its RGS-like domain to Gαq/11, which suppresses Gq/11 signaling. The data demonstrate that the dopamine signaling in defined neuronal types in vivo is regulated by specific and finely orchestrated actions of GRK isoforms.

Differential Dopamine Regulation of Ca(2+) Signaling and Its Timing Dependence in the Nucleus Accumbens

Dopamine action in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is thought to drive appetitive behavior and Pavlovian reward learning. However, it remains controversial how dopamine achieves these behavioral effects by regulating medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs) of the NAc, especially on a behaviorally relevant timescale. Metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-induced Ca(2+) signaling dependent on the Ca(2+)- releasing messenger inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) plays a critical role in controlling neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity. Here, we show that transient dopamine application facilitates mGluR/IP3-induced Ca(2+) signals within a time window of ∼2-10 s in a subpopulation of MSNs in the NAc core. Dopamine facilitation of IP3-induced Ca(2+) signaling is mediated by D1 dopamine receptors. In dopamine-insensitive MSNs, activation of A2A adenosine receptors causes enhancement of IP3-evoked Ca(2+) signals, which is reversed by D2 dopamine receptor activation. These results show that dopamine differentially regulates Ca(2+) signaling on the order of seconds in two distinct MSN subpopulations.

Involvement of HCN Channel in Muscarinic Inhibitory Action on Tonic Firing of Dorsolateral Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons

The striatum is the most prominent nucleus in the basal ganglia and plays an important role in motor movement regulation. The cholinergic interneurons (ChIs) in striatum are involved in the motion regulation by releasing acetylcholine (ACh) and modulating the output of striatal projection neurons. Here, we report that muscarinic ACh receptor (M receptor) agonists, ACh and Oxotremorine (OXO-M), decreased the firing frequency of ChIs by blocking the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels. Scopolamine (SCO), a nonselective antagonist of M receptors, abolished the inhibition. OXO-M exerted its function by activating the Gi/o cAMP signaling cascade. The single-cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (scRT-PCR) revealed that all the five subtypes of M receptors and four subtypes of HCN channels were expressed on ChIs. Among them, M2 receptors and HCN2 channels were the most dominant ones and expressed in every single studied cholinergic interneuron (ChI).Our results suggest that ACh regulates not only the output of striatal projection neurons, but also the firing activity of ChIs themselves by activating presynaptic M receptors in the dorsal striatum. The activation of M2 receptors and blockage of HCN2 channels may play an important role in ACh inhibition on the excitability of ChIs. This finding adds a new G-protein coupled receptor mediated regulation on ChIs and provides a cellular mechanism for control of cholinergic activity and ACh release in the dorsal striatum.

A model of dopamine regulation of glutamatergic synapse on medium size spiny neurons

Spiny neurons of striatum receive glutamatergic synapses on dendritic spines on the neck of which project dopaminergic synapses. Dopamine modulates, by D1 type receptors, the glutamatergic synapses by inducing the phosphorylation of AMPA and NMDA receptors which produces an increased amplitude response. Herein we present a model where, in addition to phosphorylation, the direct modulation by dopamine of the spine resistance can cooperate in producing the observed effect on some of these synapses.

Evidence against dopamine D1/D2 receptor heteromers

Hetero-oligomers of G-protein-coupled receptors have become the subject of intense investigation, because their purported potential to manifest signaling and pharmacological properties that differ from the component receptors makes them highly attractive for the development of more selective pharmacological treatments. In particular, dopamine D1 and D2 receptors have been proposed to form hetero-oligomers that couple to Gαq proteins, and SKF83959 has been proposed to act as a biased agonist that selectively engages these receptor complexes to activate Gαq and thus phospholipase C. D1/D2 heteromers have been proposed as relevant to the pathophysiology and treatment of depression and schizophrenia. We used in vitro bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, ex vivo analyses of receptor localization and proximity in brain slices, and behavioral assays in mice to characterize signaling from these putative dimers/oligomers. We were unable to detect Gαq or Gα11 protein coupling to homomers or heteromers of D1 or D2 receptors using a variety of biosensors. SKF83959-induced locomotor and grooming behaviors were eliminated in D1 receptor knockout (KO) mice, verifying a key role for D1-like receptor activation. In contrast, SKF83959-induced motor responses were intact in D2 receptor and Gαq KO mice, as well as in knock-in mice expressing a mutant Ala(286)-CaMKIIα that cannot autophosphorylate to become active. Moreover, we found that, in the shell of the nucleus accumbens, even in neurons in which D1 and D2 receptor promoters are both active, the receptor proteins are segregated and do not form complexes. These data are not compatible with SKF83959 signaling through Gαq or through a D1/D2 heteromer and challenge the existence of such a signaling complex in the adult animals that we used for our studies.

Dopamine D1 Receptor-Mediated Transmission Maintains Information Flow Through the Cortico-Striato-Entopeduncular Direct Pathway to Release Movements

In the basal ganglia (BG), dopamine plays a pivotal role in motor control, and dopamine deficiency results in severe motor dysfunctions as seen in Parkinson's disease. According to the well-accepted model of the BG, dopamine activates striatal direct pathway neurons that directly project to the output nuclei of the BG through D1 receptors (D1Rs), whereas dopamine inhibits striatal indirect pathway neurons that project to the external pallidum (GPe) through D2 receptors. To clarify the exact role of dopaminergic transmission via D1Rs in vivo, we developed novel D1R knockdown mice in which D1Rs can be conditionally and reversibly regulated. Suppression of D1R expression by doxycycline treatment decreased spontaneous motor activity and impaired motor ability in the mice. Neuronal activity in the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN), one of the output nuclei of the rodent BG, was recorded in awake conditions to examine the mechanism of motor deficits. Cortically evoked inhibition in the EPN mediated by the cortico-striato-EPN direct pathway was mostly lost during suppression of D1R expression, whereas spontaneous firing rates and patterns remained unchanged. On the other hand, GPe activity changed little. These results suggest that D1R-mediated dopaminergic transmission maintains the information flow through the direct pathway to appropriately release motor actions.

Morphological changes of glutamatergic synapses in animal models of Parkinson's disease

The striatum and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) are the main entry doors for extrinsic inputs to reach the basal ganglia (BG) circuitry. The cerebral cortex, thalamus and brainstem are the key sources of glutamatergic inputs to these nuclei. There is anatomical, functional and neurochemical evidence that glutamatergic neurotransmission is altered in the striatum and STN of animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and that these changes may contribute to aberrant network neuronal activity in the BG-thalamocortical circuitry. Postmortem studies of animal models and PD patients have revealed significant pathology of glutamatergic synapses, dendritic spines and microcircuits in the striatum of parkinsonians. More recent findings have also demonstrated a significant breakdown of the glutamatergic corticosubthalamic system in parkinsonian monkeys. In this review, we will discuss evidence for synaptic glutamatergic dysfunction and pathology of cortical and thalamic inputs to the striatum and STN in models of PD. The potential functional implication of these alterations on synaptic integration, processing and transmission of extrinsic information through the BG circuits will be considered. Finally, the significance of these pathological changes in the pathophysiology of motor and non-motor symptoms in PD will be examined.

Differential CaMKII regulation by voltage-gated calcium channels in the striatum

Calcium signaling regulates synaptic plasticity and many other functions in striatal medium spiny neurons to modulate basal ganglia function. Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a major calcium-dependent signaling protein that couples calcium entry to diverse cellular changes. CaMKII activation results in autophosphorylation at Thr286 and sustained calcium-independent CaMKII activity after calcium signals dissipate. However, little is known about the mechanisms regulating striatal CaMKII. To address this, mouse brain slices were treated with pharmacological modulators of calcium channels and punches of dorsal striatum were immunoblotted for CaMKII Thr286 autophosphorylation as an index of CaMKII activation. KCl depolarization increased levels of CaMKII autophosphorylation ~2-fold; this increase was blocked by an LTCC antagonist and was mimicked by treatment with pharmacological LTCC activators. The chelation of extracellular calcium robustly decreased basal CaMKII autophosphorylation within 5min and increased levels of total CaMKII in cytosolic fractions, in addition to decreasing the phosphorylation of CaMKII sites in the GluN2B subunit of NMDA receptors and the GluA1 subunit of AMPA receptors. We also found that the maintenance of basal levels of CaMKII autophosphorylation requires low-voltage gated T-type calcium channels, but not LTCCs or R-type calcium channels. Our findings indicate that CaMKII activity is dynamically regulated by multiple calcium channels in the striatum thus coupling calcium entry to key downstream substrates.

The presence of cortical neurons in striatal-cortical co-cultures alters the effects of dopamine and BDNF on medium spiny neuron dendritic development

Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) are the major striatal neuron and receive synaptic input from both glutamatergic and dopaminergic afferents. These synapses are made on MSN dendritic spines, which undergo density and morphology changes in association with numerous disease and experience-dependent states. Despite wide interest in the structure and function of mature MSNs, relatively little is known about MSN development. Furthermore, most in vitro studies of MSN development have been done in simple striatal cultures that lack any type of non-autologous synaptic input, leaving open the question of how MSN development is affected by a complex environment that includes other types of neurons, glia, and accompanying secreted and cell-associated cues. Here we characterize the development of MSNs in striatal-cortical co-culture, including quantitative morphological analysis of dendritic arborization and spine development, describing progressive changes in density and morphology of developing spines. Overall, MSN growth is much more robust in the striatal-cortical co-culture compared to striatal mono-culture. Inclusion of dopamine (DA) in the co-culture further enhances MSN dendritic arborization and spine density, but the effects of DA on dendritic branching are only significant at later times in development. In contrast, exogenous Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) has only a minimal effect on MSN development in the co-culture, but significantly enhances MSN dendritic arborization in striatal mono-culture. Importantly, inhibition of NMDA receptors in the co-culture significantly enhances the effect of exogenous BDNF, suggesting that the efficacy of BDNF depends on the cellular environment. Combined, these studies identify specific periods of MSN development that may be particularly sensitive to perturbation by external factors and demonstrate the importance of studying MSN development in a complex signaling environment.

Characterization of ST14A Cells for Studying Modulation of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels

In medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the striatum, dopamine D₂ receptors (D₂Rs) specifically inhibit the Ca_v1.3 subtype of L-type Ca²⁺ channels (LTCs). MSNs are heterogeneous in their expression of dopamine receptors making the study of D₂R pathways difficult in primary neurons. Here, we employed the ST14A cell line, derived from embryonic striatum and characterized to have properties of MSNs, to study Ca_v1.3 current and its modulation by neurotransmitters. Round, undifferentiated ST14A cells exhibited little to no endogenous Ca²⁺ current while differentiated ST14A cells expressed endogenous Ca²⁺ current. Transfection with LTC subunits produced functional Ca_v1.3 current from round cells, providing a homogeneous model system compared to native MSNs for studying D₂R pathways. However, neither endogenous nor recombinant Ca_v1.3 current was modulated by the D₂R agonist quinpirole. We confirmed D₂R expression in ST14A cells and also detected D₁Rs, D₄Rs, D₅Rs, G_q, calcineurin and phospholipase A₂ using RT-PCR and/or Western blot analysis. Phospholipase C β-1 (PLCβ-1) expression was not detected by Western blot analysis which may account for the lack of LTC modulation by D₂Rs. These findings raise caution about the assumption that the presence of G-protein coupled receptors in cell lines indicates the presence of complete signaling cascades. However, exogenous arachidonic acid inhibited recombinant Ca_v1.3 current indicating that channels expressed in ST14A cells are capable of modulation since they respond to a known signaling molecule downstream of D₂Rs. Thus, ST14A cells provide a MSN-like cell line for studying channel modulation and signaling pathways that do not involve activation of PLCβ-1.