title: Subcortical dopaminergic deficits in a DISC1 mutant model: a study in direct reference to human molecular brain imaging.
abstract: Imaging of the human brain has been an invaluable aid in understanding neuropsychopharmacology and, in particular, the role of dopamine in the striatum in mental illness. Here, we report a study in a genetic mouse model for major mental illness guided by results from human brain imaging: a systematic study using small animal positron emission tomography (PET), autoradiography, microdialysis and molecular biology in a putative dominant-negative mutant DISC1 transgenic model. This mouse model showed augmented binding of radioligands to the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) in the striatum as well as neurochemical and behavioral changes to methamphetamine administration. Previously we reported that this model displayed deficits in the forced swim test, a representative indicator of antidepressant efficacy. By combining the results of our two studies, we propose a working hypothesis for future studies that this model might represent a mixed condition of depression and psychosis. We hope that this study will also help bridge a major gap in translational psychiatry between basic characterization of animal models and clinico-pharmacological assessment of patients mainly through PET imaging.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Jaaro-Peled
authors: Minae
authors: M
authors: Niwa
authors: Catherine A
authors: CA
authors: Foss
authors: Rina
authors: R
authors: Murai
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: de Los Reyes
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Kamiya
authors: Yolanda
authors: Y
authors: Mateo
authors: Patricio
authors: P
authors: O'Donnell
authors: Nicola G
authors: NG
authors: Cascella
authors: Toshitaka
authors: T
authors: Nabeshima
authors: Tomás R
authors: TR
authors: Guilarte
authors: Martin G
authors: MG
authors: Pomper
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Sawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004298:Dopamine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011859:Radiography; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C412476:DISC1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D008694:Methamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine