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Updated: May 27, 2026
07:25
Identification of Dopamine D1-Alpha Receptor Within Rodent Nucleus Accumbens by an Innovative RNA In Situ Detection Technology
Published on: March 27, 2018
Specific knockdown of the D2 long dopamine receptor variant
Bart J Naughton1, Keerthi Thirtamara-Rajamani, Chuansong Wang
1Department of Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Neuroreport
|November 16, 2011
Summary
Selective knockdown of dopamine D2L receptors in the nucleus accumbens slightly reduced locomotion but did not alter cocaine
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Dopamine signaling in the nucleus accumbens is crucial for mediating cocaine's effects.
- Two dopamine D2 receptor splice variants, D2L and D2S, are thought to have distinct functional roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific in vivo functions of the D2L receptor splice variant.
- To determine if selective manipulation of D2 receptor isoforms is feasible in specific brain regions.
Main Methods:
- Viral-mediated short-hairpin RNA was used to selectively knock down D2L receptors in the nucleus accumbens.
- Locomotor activity and conditioned place preference in response to cocaine were assessed.
Main Results:
- Selective D2L receptor knockdown resulted in a slight but significant decrease in basal locomotor activity.
- Cocaine-induced stimulation of locomotion was not significantly altered by D2L knockdown.
- A trend towards reduced conditioned place preference for cocaine was observed, but it was not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Dopamine D2 receptor splice variants can be selectively manipulated in vivo within specific brain regions.
- This selective manipulation allows for more targeted investigations into the distinct roles of D2 receptor isoforms.
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