Loading…
Selective activation of D1 dopamine receptors impairs sensorimotor gating in Long–Evans rats
Background and Purpose Sensorimotor gating is a perceptual process aimed at filtering out irrelevant information. In humans and animal models, this function can be operationally measured through the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. Notably, PPI deficits are associated with n...
Saved in:
Published in: | British journal of pharmacology 2016-07, Vol.173 (13), p.2122-2134 |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Summary: | Background and Purpose
Sensorimotor gating is a perceptual process aimed at filtering out irrelevant information. In humans and animal models, this function can be operationally measured through the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. Notably, PPI deficits are associated with numerous neuropsychiatric conditions characterized by gating disturbances, including schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome. Ample evidence has shown that dopamine plays a key role in PPI regulation and, in particular, rodent studies indicate that this neurotransmitter modulates PPI through D1 and D2 dopamine receptors. In mice, the relative contributions of these two families of receptors are strain‐dependent. Conversely, the role of D1 receptors in the regulation of PPI across different rat strains remains unclear.
Experimental Approach
We tested the effects of selective D1 and D2 receptor agonists and antagonists on the startle reflex and PPI of Sprague‐Dawley, Wistar and Long–Evans rats.
Key Results
In contrast with Sprague‐Dawley and Wistar rats, the full D1 receptor agonist SKF82958 elicited significant PPI deficits in Long–Evans rats, an effect sensitive to the selective D1 antagonist SCH23390.
Conclusions and Implications
Our results suggest that, in Long–Evans rats, D1 receptor activation may be sufficient to significantly impair PPI. These data emphasize the role of D1 receptors in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders featuring alterations in sensorimotor gating, and uphold the importance of the genetic background in shaping the role of dopamine receptors in the regulation of this key information‐processing function.
Linked Articles
This article is part of a themed section on Updating Neuropathology and Neuropharmacology of Monoaminergic Systems. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v173.13/issuetoc |
---|---|
ISSN: | 0007-1188 1476-5381 1476-5381 |
DOI: | 10.1111/bph.13232 |