2017
Bidirectional Regulation of Aggression in Mice by Hippocampal Alpha-7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors
Lewis AS, Pittenger ST, Mineur YS, Stout D, Smith PH, Picciotto MR. Bidirectional Regulation of Aggression in Mice by Hippocampal Alpha-7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2017, 43: 1267-1275. PMID: 29114104, PMCID: PMC5916354, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.276.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsΑ7 nAChRsDentate gyrusNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsGTS-21Resident-intruder interactionsAlpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptorAcetylcholine receptorsΑ7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptorExcitatory-inhibitory balancePromising therapeutic interventionGranule cell activityAggressive behaviorResident-intruder testHippocampal α7Wild-type controlsUnderlying neurobiological substratesGABAergic interneuronsMale micePotential neural circuitsRegulation of aggressionGranule cellsTherapeutic interventionsPartial agonistBrain regionsCell activity
2012
The Synaptic Adhesion Molecule SynCAM 1 Contributes to Cocaine Effects on Synapse Structure and Psychostimulant Behavior
Giza JI, Jung Y, Jeffrey RA, Neugebauer NM, Picciotto MR, Biederer T. The Synaptic Adhesion Molecule SynCAM 1 Contributes to Cocaine Effects on Synapse Structure and Psychostimulant Behavior. Neuropsychopharmacology 2012, 38: 628-638. PMID: 23169347, PMCID: PMC3572459, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2012.226.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNucleus accumbensDrugs of abuseSynCAM 1Cocaine effectsSynapse structureMushroom-type spinesExcitatory synapse numberMedium spiny neuronsAddiction-related behaviorsKO miceSpiny neuronsStubby spinesSynapse numberAdhesion molecule proteinsExcitatory synapsesCocaine administrationTrans-synaptic interactionsKnockout micePsychostimulant effectsNAc synapsesStructural remodelingTherapeutic interventionsSynaptic cleftPsychostimulant cocaineSynapse development