L-dopa reverses behavioral deficits in the Pitx3 mouse fetus

• Published in: Behavioral neuroscience Vol. 128; no. 6; p. 749
• Main Authors: Kleven, Gale A, Booth, Heather M, Voogd, Marco, Ronca, April E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine Agents - therapeutic use; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extremities - physiopathology; Female; Fetal Diseases - drug therapy; Fetal Diseases - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Levodopa - therapeutic use; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Motor Activity - drug effects; Mouth - drug effects; Pregnancy; Substantia Nigra; Transcription Factors - genetics

Studies of fetal rodents have provided evidence that early emerging behaviors, such as the suckling response, are dependent on the developing dopaminergic system. Although connections have been made between manipulations of dopamine and altered behavioral responses, the specific neural pathways invo...