Topic: dopaminergic system

The dopaminergic system facilitates associative learning and motivation by signaling reward expectation and positive or negative valence in selected brain regions. Previous studies measuring somatic and axonal activity suggest a heterogeneous representation of reinforcement signaling by dopaminergic neurons, but it remains unclear how dopamine signals for expectation and valence interact in various brain regions. Here, we used an improved fluorescent dopamine sensor to record dopamine signals associated with reward predictions and valence in eight distinct striatal and non-striatal regions. We

Promising alternative strategies, such as repurposing drugs, have been considered for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Within this framework, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown promising results in preserving the dopaminergic system. Indeed, published data from our group revealed that NAC single-dose administration enhanced DAn viability, as we found that it could restore dopamine transporter (DAT) levels. With this in mind, we consider that NAC application could be a remarkable asset to approach PD. Therefore, in the present study, we addressed the impact of a 7-day treatment with NAC in a 6-hydroxydo

Dysregulation of dopamine transporters (DAT) within the dopaminergic system is an important biomarker of cocaine exposure. Depending on cocaine amount in-taken, one-time exposure in rats could lead to most (>95% of total) of DAT translocating to plasma membrane of the dopaminergic neurons compared to normal DAT distribution (~5.7% on the plasma membrane). Without further cocaine exposure, the time course of striatal DAT distribution, in terms of intracellular and plasma membrane fractions of DAT, represents a recovery process of the dopaminergic system. In our lab’s studies, we demonstrated

Tumbling is a fancy breed phenotype in domestic pigeons maintained by selective breeding, and it may take different in different sub-breeds. Roughly, it can be defined as the backward somersaults where the pigeon rotates around its neck-to-tail axis during flight. During development following flight onset, they spontaneously start manifesting tumbling, and over time, the tumbling phenotype gets consolidated in such a way that functional losses can emerge such as loss of flight. With its spontaneous early developmental appearance, and pronounced nature with aging, we proposed a corollary betwee

Consumption of cannabinoid-containing products has increased for their beneficial effects on pregnancy for reducing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or anxiety. However, FDA clearly strongly advises against the use of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) during pregnancy. Alongside, mostly of the studies have investigated the effects of prenatal THC (pTHC) exposure, in males only, but pTHC shows a sex bias. Here, we investigate the effects of pTHC exposure in the male and female young rats.Sprague and Dawley rats were subcutaneously treated with THC (2 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (VHC), from gestatio