Rats overexpressing the dopamine transporter display behavioral and neurobiological abnormalities with relevance to repetitive disorders

Sci Rep. 2016 Dec 15:6:39145. doi: 10.1038/srep39145.

Abstract

The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays a pivotal role in maintaining optimal dopamine signaling. DAT-overactivity has been linked to various neuropsychiatric disorders yet so far the direct pathological consequences of it has not been fully assessed. We here generated a transgenic rat model that via pronuclear microinjection overexpresses the DAT gene. Our results demonstrate that DAT-overexpression induces multiple neurobiological effects that exceeded the expected alterations in the corticostriatal dopamine system. Furthermore, transgenic rats specifically exhibited behavioral and pharmaco-therapeutic profiles phenotypic of repetitive disorders. Together our findings suggest that the DAT rat model will constitute a valuable tool for further investigations into the pathological influence of DAT overexpression on neural systems relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Microinjections
  • Nervous System Diseases / genetics
  • Nervous System Diseases / psychology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Transgenic
  • Up-Regulation*

Substances

  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Slc6a3 protein, mouse