In vivo NMDA/dopamine interaction resulting in Fos production in the limbic system and basal ganglia of the mouse brain

• Published in: Brain research. Molecular brain research. Vol. 75; no. 2; pp. 271 - 280
• Main Authors: Radulovic, Jelena, Blank, Thomas, Nijholt, Ingrid, Kammermeier, Jens, Spiess, Joachim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 22.02.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amygdala; Animals; Basal Ganglia - chemistry; Basal Ganglia - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Caudate Nucleus - metabolism; Central nervous system; Central neurotransmission. Neuromudulation. Pathways and receptors; Dopamine - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hippocampus; Hippocampus - metabolism; Immediate early gene; Immunohistochemistry; Limbic System - chemistry; Limbic System - metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; N-Methylaspartate - metabolism; Oncogene Proteins v-fos - biosynthesis; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - metabolism; Striatum; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Striatum; Amygdala; Hippocampus; Immediate early gene; Dopamine; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Molecular interaction; Glutamate receptor; Basal ganglion; Limbic system; Catecholamine; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Neurotransmitter; NMDA receptor; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0169-328X; 1872-6941
• DOI: 10.1016/S0169-328X(99)00322-8

Glutamatergic and dopaminergic effects on molecular processes have been extensively investigated in the basal ganglia. It has been demonstrated that NMDA and dopamine D 1 and D 2 receptors interact in the regulation of signal transduction and induction of transcription factors. In the present experiments, NMDA/dopamine interactions were investigated in the normosensitive caudate nucleus, hippocampus and amygdala by monitoring Fos production. We demonstrated that NMDA and the D 1 receptor agonist SKF 38393 triggered Fos levels in a distinct, non-overlapping and region-specific pattern. NMDA injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) elevated Fos levels in all hippocampal subfields and the central amygdala, whereas SKF 38393 triggered Fos production in basomedial, cortical, medial amygdala and caudate nucleus. The NMDA receptor antagonist CGS 19755 prevented NMDA- and SKF 38393-triggered Fos production in all investigated brain areas. Similarly, the D 1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 inhibited the effects produced by SKF 38393 or NMDA. The D 2 receptor antagonist sulpiride exerted synergistic and antagonistic effects on NMDA- and SKF 38393-triggered Fos production, in a region specific manner. These data suggest that NMDA and dopamine receptors regulate Fos production within the limbic system and basal ganglia through regionally differentiated but interdependent actions.