Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: SK3

Title: Cav 1.3 L-type Ca ( 2+) channels mediate long-term adaptation in dopamine D2L-mediated GluA1 trafficking in the dorsal striatum following cocaine exposure.

Authors: Kathryn Schierberl, Thomas Giordano, Shirish Satpute, Jin Hao, Gagandeep Kaur, Franz Hofmann, Sven Moosmang, Joerg Striessnig, Anjali Rajadhyaksha

Journal, date & volume: Channels (Austin), 2012 Jan-Feb , 6, 11-7

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22419037

Abstract
AMPA receptor (AMPAR) plasticity at glutamatergic synapses in the mesostriatal dopaminergic pathway has been implicated in persistent cocaine-induced behavioral responses; however, the precise mechanism underlying these changes remains unknown. Utilizing cocaine psychomotor sensitization in mice we find that repeated cocaine results in a basal reduction of Ser 845 GluA1 and cell surface GluA1 levels in the dorsal striatum (dStr) following a protracted withdrawal period, an adaptation that is dependent on Cav 1.3 channels but not those expressed in the VTA. We find that the basally-induced decrease in this phosphoprotein is the result of recruitment of the striatal dopamine D2 pathway, as evidenced by enhanced levels of D2 receptor (D2R) mRNA expression and D2R function as examined using the D2R antagonist, eticlopride, as well as alterations in the phosphorylation status of several downstream molecular targets of D2R's, including CREB, DARPP-32, Akt and GSK3β. Taken together with our recently published findings examining similar phenomena in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), these results underscore the utilization of divergent molecular mechanisms in the dStr, in mediating cocaine-induced persistent behavioral changes.