Functionally selective D2Rs, striatal circuit function and motivation

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Brain imaging studies have found alterations in striatal dopamine D2R binding in several mental disorders associated with altered motivation including schizophrenia, ADHD and drug addiction. In spite of these observations it is still unclear how changes in D2R levels alter striatal circuit function and motivation. In the first 4.5 years of this RO1 project we have found that D2R overexpression in the ventral striatum (Nucleus accumbens core; NAcc) of the mouse enhances motivation. We further identified a new mechanism by which D2Rs could regulate motivation: Like presynaptic D2Rs in dopamine neurons inhibit dopamine release, we found that D2Rs inhibit collateral transmission from indirect to direct pathway neurons. The direct pathway is one of the two functionally opposing output pathways of the striatum. It promotes thalamo-cortical activity, thereby relaying a “go” signal, whereas the indirect pathway inhibits thalamo-cortical activity, thus relaying a “no go” signal. We hypothesize that decreased collateral inhibition will enhance direct pathway activity thereby promoting motivated behavior. The same mechanism that regulates synaptic transmission at intrastriatal collaterals should also affect transmission at the main indirect output terminals in the ventral pallidum (VP). We therefore hypothesize that D2Rs in the NAcc enhance motivation via two mechanisms, dis- inhibition of direct pathway activity and inhibition of indirect pathway output. To develop new therapeutic strategies for disorders of motivation it will be crucial to understand how ventral-striatal D2Rs regulate motivation at the molecular level. D2Rs signal via two downstream pathways one that is G-protein dependent and one is G-protein independent and involves arrestin. Here, we will compare the efficiencies of functionally selective D2Rs in their ability to enhance motivation and to inhibit indirect pathway transmission. Since G-protein signaling is required for D2R-mediated inhibition of dopamine release we hypothesize that G-protein but not arrestin signaling is necessary for inhibiting indirect pathway transmission leading to enhanced motivation. Whether decreased indirect pathway transmission disinhibits direct pathway and downstream VP activity is unknown but essential for understanding how D2Rs regulate motivation. We will therefore measure neuronal activity selectively in the VP as well as in the direct or the indirect pathway during motivated behavior. We will use the Cre/loxP system in combination with Cre-dependent viruses to selectively overexpress wild-type or mutated functionally selective D2Rs in the indirect-pathway of the NAcc and employ patch clamp slice physiology, in vivo calcium imaging and a behavioral analysis to address the following aims: Aim 1: To determine the function of NAcc D2Rs in VP inhibition and motivation Aim 2: To identify the signaling pathway(s) by which NAcc D2Rs regulate motivation