Fos regulates neuronal activity in the nucleus accumbens

NASIF, FERNANDO J.

NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

Año: 2008 vol. 448 p. 157 - 157

0304-3940

epeated exposure to drugs of abuse induces a variety of persistent changes in the brain and the dopamine D1 receptor plays a major role in the process. To understand intracellular mechanisms contributing to cocaine-induced neuroadaptations, we previously examined the role of the immediate early gene Fos using a mouse in which Fos is disrupted primarily in D1 receptor-expressing neurons in the brain. We found that both dendritic remodeling of medium spiny neurons and behavioral sensitization induced by repeated exposure to cocaine are attenuated in the mutant mice. Moreover, the expression of genes encoding several transcription factors, neurotransmitter receptors and intracellular signaling molecules following repeated cocaine administration is altered in the mutant mice compared to that in wild-type mice. In the present study, we have investigated the role of Fos in regulating neuronal excitability at a cellular level and found that medium spiny nucleus accumbens neurons in the mutan