title: Altered cocaine effects in mice lacking Ca(v)2.3 (alpha(1E)) calcium channel.
abstract: Much evidence indicates that calcium channel plays a role in cocaine-induced behavioral responses. We assessed the contributions of Ca(v)2.3 (alpha(1E)) calcium channel to cocaine effects using Ca(v)2.3 knockout mice (Ca(v)2.3-/-). Acute administration of cocaine enhanced the locomotor activity in wild-type mice (Ca(v)2.3+/+), but failed to produce any response in Ca(v)2.3-/- mice. Repeated exposure to cocaine induced the behavioral sensitization and conditioned place preference in both genotypes. Pretreatment with a D1-receptor antagonist, SCH23390, blocked the cocaine-induced place preference in Ca(v)2.3+/+ mice; however, it had no significant effect in Ca(v)2.3-/- mice. Microdialysis and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the levels of extracellular dopamine and dopamine D1 and D2 receptor mRNAs were not altered in Ca(v)2.3-/- mice. These data indicate that Ca(v)2.3 channel contributes to the locomotor-stimulating effect of cocaine, and the deletion of Ca(v)2.3 channel reveals the presence of a novel pathway leading to cocaine rewarding which is insensitive to D1 receptor antagonist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8519, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hironao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saegusa
authors.forename: Shuqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zong
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020908:Calcium Channels, R-Type; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; C498916:Cacna1e protein, mouse; D015220:Calcium Channels; D020908:Calcium Channels, R-Type; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D003042:Cocaine; D004298:Dopamine