Individual differences in locomotor activity are associated with levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and neurofilament proteins in the ventral tegmental area of sprague-dawley rats

Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences
M J MiserendinoE J Nestler

Abstract

We have demonstrated previously that chronic morphine and cocaine treatments increase levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and decrease levels of neurofilament (NF) proteins, in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a major dopaminergic brain reward region, of outbred Sprague-Dawley rats. We have also found inherent differences in levels of these proteins in the VTA of inbred rat strains that differ in their behavioral responses to opiates, cocaine, and other drugs of abuse, with the Lewis rat showing higher levels of TH and lower levels of NFs in the VTA compared to the Fischer 344 rat. Based on recent reports that individual differences in drug responses among outbred Sprague-Dawley rats are highly correlated with the animals' locomotor response to novelty, we determined in the present study whether such within-strain differences in locomotor behavior are also associated with differences in levels of TH and NFs in the VTA. Groups of 42 Sprague-Dawley rats were assessed for locomotor activity in a novel environment. The four animals from each group with the lowest locomotor responses (designated L rats), and the four with the highest locomotor responses (designated H rats), were analyzed for TH and NF immunoreactivity by immunoblo...Continue Reading

Citations

Jul 5, 2007·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Emilio Fernandez-EspejoRocio Moreno-Paublete
Oct 10, 2002·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Andrea SbarbatiFrancesco Osculati
Feb 28, 1994·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·E J NestlerL Trevisan
Jun 7, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A J EischE J Nestler
Oct 24, 1998·The European Journal of Neuroscience·L R LucasP V Piazza
Aug 8, 1997·Science·W A CarlezonE J Nestler

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