Selective deletion of GRK2 alters psychostimulant-induced behaviors and dopamine neurotransmission

Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014 Sep;39(10):2450-62. doi: 10.1038/npp.2014.97. Epub 2014 Apr 29.

Abstract

GRK2 is a G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) that is broadly expressed and is known to regulate diverse types of receptors. GRK2 null animals exhibit embryonic lethality due to a severe developmental heart defect, which has precluded the study of this kinase in the adult brain. To elucidate the specific role of GRK2 in the brain dopamine (DA) system, we used a conditional gene knockout approach to selectively delete GRK2 in DA D1 receptor (D1R)-, DA D2 receptor (D2R)-, adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR)-, or DA transporter (DAT)-expressing neurons. Here we show that select GRK2-deficient mice display hyperactivity, hyposensitivity, or hypersensitivity to the psychomotor effects of cocaine, altered striatal signaling, and DA release and uptake. Mice with GRK2 deficiency in D2R-expressing neurons also exhibited increased D2 autoreceptor activity. These findings reveal a cell-type-specific role for GRK2 in the regulation of normal motor behavior, sensitivity to psychostimulants, dopamine neurotransmission, and D2 autoreceptor function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / pharmacology*
  • Cocaine / pharmacology
  • Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology
  • Dopamine / metabolism*
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / genetics
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / metabolism*
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / genetics
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / metabolism
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1 / genetics
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / genetics
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism
  • Space Perception / drug effects
  • Space Perception / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission* / drug effects

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • GRK2 protein, mouse
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2
  • Cocaine
  • Dopamine