DeBaker MC, Mitten EH, Rose TR, Marron Fernandez de Velasco E, Gao R, Lee AM, Wickman K. RGS6 negatively regulates inhibitory G protein signaling in dopamine neurons and positively regulates binge-like alcohol consumption in mice.
Br J Pharmacol 2023;
180:2140-2155. [PMID:
36929333 PMCID:
PMC10504421 DOI:
10.1111/bph.16071]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Drugs of abuse, including alcohol, increase dopamine in the mesocorticolimbic system via actions on dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Increased dopamine transmission can activate inhibitory G protein signalling pathways in VTA dopamine neurons, including those controlled by GABAB and D2 receptors. Members of the R7 subfamily of regulator of G protein signalling (RGS) proteins can regulate inhibitory G protein signalling, but their influence on VTA dopamine neurons is unclear. Here, we investigated the influence of RGS6, an R7 RGS family memberthat has been implicated in the regulation of alcohol consumption in mice, on inhibitory G protein signalling in VTA dopamine neurons.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
We used molecular, electrophysiological and genetic approaches to probe the impact of RGS6 on inhibitory G protein signalling in VTA dopamine neurons and on binge-like alcohol consumption in mice.
KEY RESULTS
RGS6 is expressed in adult mouse VTA dopamine neurons and it modulates inhibitory G protein signalling in a receptor-dependent manner, tempering D2 receptor-induced somatodendritic currents and accelerating deactivation of synaptically evoked GABAB receptor-dependent responses. RGS6-/- mice exhibit diminished binge-like alcohol consumption, a phenotype replicated in female (but not male) mice lacking RGS6 selectively in VTA dopamine neurons.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
RGS6 negatively regulates GABAB - and D2 receptor-dependent inhibitory G protein signalling pathways in mouse VTA dopamine neurons and exerts a sex-dependent positive influence on binge-like alcohol consumption in adult mice. As such, RGS6 may represent a new diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for alcohol use disorder.
Collapse