Altered GABAergic neurotransmission in mice lacking dopamine D2 receptors

Mol Cell Neurosci. 2004 Apr;25(4):732-41. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2003.12.010.

Abstract

The levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) were strongly increased in the cortex and the striatum in dopamine D2 receptors null (D2R-/-) mice, which show a significant locomotor impairment. In this study, the effects of different GABAergic drugs on locomotor activity were analyzed in D2R-/- mice. After administering muscimol (1 mg/kg), a GABA(A) receptor agonist, the D2R-/- mice showed increased locomotor activity up to 200%. When the muscimol dose was increased (4-6 mg/kg), the D2R-/- mice exhibited seizure-like behavior, and the electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings during these behaviors showed a high amplitude rhythmic epileptiform activity in these mice. In situ hybridization showed that after injecting muscimol in the D2R-/- mice, the expression of enkephalin and immediate early gene, NGFI-A, was closely regulated with the locomotor activity regulated by GABAergic stimulation. These results suggest that the absence of D2R alters the GABAergic neurotransmission, specifically on GABA(A)-receptor mediated signaling, and stimulating the GABA(A) receptor can reverse the dysfunction of GABAergic inhibition in the motor circuits in the basal ganglia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basal Ganglia / drug effects
  • Basal Ganglia / metabolism*
  • Basal Ganglia / physiopathology
  • Brain Chemistry / genetics*
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Electroencephalography / drug effects
  • Enkephalins / metabolism
  • GABA Agonists / pharmacology
  • GABA Antagonists / pharmacology
  • GABA-A Receptor Agonists
  • GABA-A Receptor Antagonists
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Neural Inhibition / drug effects
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / deficiency
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / genetics*
  • Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Seizures / enzymology
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / physiology
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Enkephalins
  • GABA Agonists
  • GABA Antagonists
  • GABA-A Receptor Agonists
  • GABA-A Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase
  • Dopamine