2012
Constitutive knockout of the membrane cytoskeleton protein beta adducin decreases mushroom spine density in the nucleus accumbens but does not prevent spine remodeling in response to cocaine
Jung Y, Mulholland PJ, Wiseman SL, Chandler LJ, Picciotto MR. Constitutive knockout of the membrane cytoskeleton protein beta adducin decreases mushroom spine density in the nucleus accumbens but does not prevent spine remodeling in response to cocaine. European Journal Of Neuroscience 2012, 37: 1-9. PMID: 23106536, PMCID: PMC3538958, DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNucleus accumbensCocaine administrationSpine densitySynaptic plasticityMature mushroom-shaped spinesMushroom spine densityDaily cocaine administrationMushroom-shaped spinesChronic cocaine administrationOverall spine densityElevated locomotor activityExperience-dependent remodelingLipophilic dye DiINAc slicesWT miceMushroom spinesKO miceCocaine treatmentDiolistic labelingSynaptic remodelingBrain slicesBrain areasConstitutive knockoutMature spinesLocomotor activity
2011
Reduced locomotor responses to cocaine in ghrelin-deficient mice
Abizaid A, Mineur YS, Roth RH, Elsworth JD, Sleeman MW, Picciotto MR, Horvath TL. Reduced locomotor responses to cocaine in ghrelin-deficient mice. Neuroscience 2011, 192: 500-506. PMID: 21699961, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.06.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGhrelin KO miceWT miceDopamine releaseLocomotor activityBehavioral effectsDopamine metabolite concentrationsGhrelin-deficient miceLocomotor-stimulating effectsDopamine cell activityEffects of cocaineMesolimbic dopaminergic systemWild-type littermatesOrexigenic hormoneChronic injectionsDopamine utilizationDaily injectionsStriatal dopamineMesolimbic systemWT littermatesDopaminergic systemDaily cocaineFood intakeRewarding effectsPsychostimulant effectsLocomotor response
2008
Regulation of Synaptic Efficacy in Hypocretin/Orexin-Containing Neurons by Melanin Concentrating Hormone in the Lateral Hypothalamus
Rao Y, Lu M, Ge F, Marsh DJ, Qian S, Wang AH, Picciotto MR, Gao XB. Regulation of Synaptic Efficacy in Hypocretin/Orexin-Containing Neurons by Melanin Concentrating Hormone in the Lateral Hypothalamus. Journal Of Neuroscience 2008, 28: 9101-9110. PMID: 18784290, PMCID: PMC2562258, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1766-08.2008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAction PotentialsAnalysis of VarianceAnimalsAnimals, NewbornBehavior, AnimalBenzazepinesBenzhydryl CompoundsCentral Nervous System StimulantsDopamine AgonistsDose-Response Relationship, DrugExcitatory Amino Acid AgentsGlutamic AcidGreen Fluorescent ProteinsHypothalamic Area, LateralHypothalamic HormonesIn Vitro TechniquesIntracellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsMelaninsMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, TransgenicModafinilMotor ActivityNeuronsNeuropeptidesOrexinsPertussis ToxinPituitary HormonesReceptors, SomatostatinSynapsesSynaptic TransmissionTime FactorsConceptsHypocretin/orexin neuronsMCHR1 KO miceOrexin-containing neuronsLateral hypothalamusWild-type miceOrexin neuronsHypocretin/orexinKO miceMCH receptor 1Action potential firingEffects of modafinilMelanin-Concentrating HormoneHypocretin/orexin signalingGroups of neuronsMCH neuronsMiniature EPSCsWT miceHypocretin/Glutamatergic synapsesOrexin signalingSynaptic transmissionPertussis toxinBrain areasReciprocal innervationInhibitory influence