Resting-state dopaminergic cell firing in the ventral tegmental area negatively regulates affiliative social interactions in a developmental animal model of schizophrenia

Bibliographic Details
Title: Resting-state dopaminergic cell firing in the ventral tegmental area negatively regulates affiliative social interactions in a developmental animal model of schizophrenia
Authors: Hidekazu Sotoyama, Hisaaki Namba, Yutaro Kobayashi, Taku Hasegawa, Dai Watanabe, Ena Nakatsukasa, Kenji Sakimura, Tomoyuki Furuyashiki, Hiroyuki Nawa
Source: Translational Psychiatry, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
Publisher Information: Nature Publishing Group, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Subject Terms: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, RC321-571
More Details: Abstract Hyperdopaminergic activities are often linked to positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but their neuropathological implications on negative symptoms are rather controversial among reports. Here, we explored the regulatory role of the resting state-neural activity of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) on social interaction using a developmental rat model for schizophrenia. We prepared the model by administering an ammonitic cytokine, epidermal growth factor (EGF), to rat pups, which later exhibit the deficits of social interaction as monitored with same-gender affiliative sniffing. In vivo single-unit recording and microdialysis revealed that the baseline firing frequency of and dopamine release from VTA dopaminergic neurons were chronically increased in EGF model rats, and their social interaction was concomitantly reduced. Subchronic treatment with risperidone ameliorated both the social interaction deficits and higher frequency of dopaminergic cell firing in this model. Sustained suppression of hyperdopaminergic cell firing in EGF model rats by DREADD chemogenetic intervention restored the event-triggered dopamine release and their social behaviors. These observations suggest that the higher resting-state activity of VTA dopaminergic neurons is responsible for the reduced social interaction of this schizophrenia model.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2158-3188
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2158-3188
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01346-2
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/01e213a2f91d409bbc9c41474e6bf951
Accession Number: edsdoj.01e213a2f91d409bbc9c41474e6bf951
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:21583188
DOI:10.1038/s41398-021-01346-2
Published in:Translational Psychiatry
Language:English