2020.09.23
Neurotransmission through dopamine D1 receptors is required for aversive memory formation and Arc activation in the cerebral cortex
(Neurosci Res. 2020 Jul;156:58-65. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.04.006. Epub 2020 May 5.)
Saito N1, Tainaka K2, Macpherson T3, Hikida T3, Yamaguchi S4, Sasaoka T5.
1Department of Comparative and Experimental Medicine, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University; Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University.
2Department of System Pathology for Neurological Disorders, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University.
3Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University.
4Department of Morphological Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University; Center for Highly Advanced Integration of Nano and Life Sciences, Gifu University.
5Department of Comparative and Experimental Medicine, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University.
Summary
Dopaminergic neurotransmission is considered to play an important role in both reward and aversive learning. In the present study, we analyzed the role of D1R-mediated dopaminergic neurotransmission in aversive learning in the passive avoidance test. In addition, to identify brain regions activated in aversion memory formation, we analyzed a combination of D1R KD mice and transgenic mice expressing a fluorescent protein (dVenus) by regulating the expression of Arc, an immediate early gene. These mice were given an electrical foot shock and then subjected to 3D imaging by whole-brain transparencies to investigate the distribution of dVenus expression in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.
The results showed that D1R deficiency resulted in lower performance on the passive avoidance test and reduced dVenus expression in the cortex compared to control mice. These results indicate that dopaminergic transmission via the D1R is important for the formation of aversion memories, particularly affecting Arc expression in the cerebral cortex.
