On the role of c-fos expression in striatal transmission. The antisense oligonucleotide approach

The antisense oligonucleotide approach has been established as a tool to analyse the functional role of c-fos gene expression in the striatum. Studies on the distribution and cellular localization of microinjected oligonucleotides, as well as their effect on gene expression, demonstrate that the action of the c-fos oligonucleotides can be used to evaluate the role of c-fos gene expression selectively in neuronal function. Antisense oligonucleotides to c-fos inhibit both basal and stimulated c-fos expression in the striatum, which leads to characteristic changes in behavioural and biochemical parameters, as evaluated by analysis of rotational behaviour and dual probe in vivo microdialysis for the neurotransmitter GABA, respectively. These observations could be explained by a postulated D1/NMDA receptor interaction in the striatonigral GABA pathway controlled by the immediate early gene c-fos. We concluded that c-fos might be involved not only in the control of long-term changes in the cellular phenotype but also in control of firing rate.