BRAIN Initiative K99 Project

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In accordance with aims of the proposal, the following experiments were done to determine the role of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) containing neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in food intake: 1- Assessing motivation to seek and consume food in animals with low D2R in the striatum. Behavioral experiments using operant food self-administration in mice with targeted deletion of Drd2 and littermate controls. Behavioral economic analysis using progressive ratio responding to increase the effort required to obtain a single food pellet (reward) allows us to calculate the cost-benefit function. Experiments are still underway. Preliminary data shows changes in motivation associated with low levels of D2R in the striatum. 2. Measurements of evoked dopamine signals in brain slices from mice with low D2R and littermate controls. We are evaluating the effect of insulin on the dopamine signals and the changes in the insulin effect when D2R levels are decreased.