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Effect of Manipulating Dopamine Neuron Activity on Activity Levels in Mice

Undergraduate #69
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Cell and Molecular Biology

Ciara Prothro - Onondaga Community College
Co-Author(s): James D. Wherry and James David Jentsch, Binghamton University, Binghamton NY



Dopaminergic neurons innervating the striatum play a major role in drug addiction and movement. The functional role for dopamine neurons can be studied with DREADDs – designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (in this case, CNO – clozapine N oxide). We utilized mice that selectively expressed an inhibitory DREADD receptor in dopaminergic neurons; when these mice were treated with CNO, we are able to silence presynaptic dopamine neurons. Also by testing a series of other control groups, we can test the specificity of this genetic system. By studying these mice in activity and reward consumption tests, we are able to find out more about how dopamine influences motivation and movement. Our goal is too see if presynaptic dopamine silencing has any effect on activity and motivation.

Not Submitted

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by Bridges to the Baccalaureate, and the Department of Psychology android Neuroscience at Binghamton University.

Faculty Advisor: Vicentica Valdes, v.s.valdes@sunyocc.edu

Role: - Treatment of mice with CNO - Administration of Locomotion Test - Data analysis of observations

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

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