Methods to examine molecular changes and behavioral effects of drug administration.
Our laboratory has developed an integrative approach to study the molecular changes and behavioral effects of drug administration consisting of a combination of quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, RNA isolation and differential display, in situ hybridization, place preference conditioning and high-performance liquid chromatography. Although the techniques are not novel, this multi-systems approach allows for the examination of gene expression changes following the administration of drugs of abuse such as cocaine, and allows for an analysis of behavior and neurochemistry of gene knockout mice. As a result of this combination of techniques, we have been able to determine the expression, location and function of the CD81 protein. Specifically, CD81 was induced exclusively in the nucleus accumbens by cocaine treatment. Subsequent behavioral testing of CD81 knockout mice revealed these mice displayed altered sensitivity to cocaine.
Department of Toxicology, Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA.
Laura
L
Michna
Maria
M
Brenz-Verca
Jean-Luc
JL
Dreyer
George C
GC
Wagner
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D060225:Tetraspanin 28
D015703:Antigens, CD; C554799:Cd81 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D060225:Tetraspanin 28; D003042:Cocaine