Characterizing striatal patch-dopamine interactions in freely-moving mice
Location
PANEL: Insights into Molecular Interactions: Advancements in Chemical Sensing, Protein Profiling, Neurobiology, and Cellular Physiology
Science Center A254
Document Type
Presentation
Start Date
4-26-2024 4:00 PM
End Date
4-26-2024 5:00 PM
Abstract
Selecting appropriate actions and updating behaviors based on outcomes is a crucial process for all animals. This function is largely associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine and controlled by a deep brain region called the striatum. Striatum is a major target of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopamine neurons and regulates reward learning and goal-directed behaviors. Interestingly, the striatum contains specialized regions called ‘patches’ (or striosomes) with distinct gene expression profiles compared to the surrounding ‘matrix’ tissues. Striatal patches project to SNc dopamine neurons and suppress dopamine release, acting as a negative feedback loop, making them well-suited as a putative candidate for sculpting circuit-level communications. With the difference in connectivity, we hypothesize that striatal patches exhibit unique functions in behavioral regulation. This research project focuses on characterizing striatal patch-dopamine interactions in freely-moving mice, using fluorophore-based biosensors and fiber photometry recording techniques. This approach allows us to monitor subsecond striatal patch- and matrix- specific neuronal activities and extracellular dopamine levels during behaviors. Previous literature has revealed the role of striatum in locomotion, and we further examined if striatal patch activity is different compared to matrix activity during movement in an open field. Moreover, we assessed the role of striatal patches in responding to conditioned stimuli and establishing the dopamine Reward Prediction Error (RPE) through a Pavlovian conditioning test in a Skinner box. Together, this work will provide novel insight into how the striatum and dopamine systems coordinate their activity to modify ongoing actions.
Keywords:
Dopamine, Fiber photometry, Reward processing, Striatum
Recommended Citation
Gao, Haoyuan and Lee, Jenny, "Characterizing striatal patch-dopamine interactions in freely-moving mice" (2024). Research Symposium. 1.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2024/presentations/1
Major
Biology; Neuroscience
Project Mentor(s)
Christopher Howard, Neuroscience
2024
Characterizing striatal patch-dopamine interactions in freely-moving mice
PANEL: Insights into Molecular Interactions: Advancements in Chemical Sensing, Protein Profiling, Neurobiology, and Cellular Physiology
Science Center A254
Selecting appropriate actions and updating behaviors based on outcomes is a crucial process for all animals. This function is largely associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine and controlled by a deep brain region called the striatum. Striatum is a major target of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopamine neurons and regulates reward learning and goal-directed behaviors. Interestingly, the striatum contains specialized regions called ‘patches’ (or striosomes) with distinct gene expression profiles compared to the surrounding ‘matrix’ tissues. Striatal patches project to SNc dopamine neurons and suppress dopamine release, acting as a negative feedback loop, making them well-suited as a putative candidate for sculpting circuit-level communications. With the difference in connectivity, we hypothesize that striatal patches exhibit unique functions in behavioral regulation. This research project focuses on characterizing striatal patch-dopamine interactions in freely-moving mice, using fluorophore-based biosensors and fiber photometry recording techniques. This approach allows us to monitor subsecond striatal patch- and matrix- specific neuronal activities and extracellular dopamine levels during behaviors. Previous literature has revealed the role of striatum in locomotion, and we further examined if striatal patch activity is different compared to matrix activity during movement in an open field. Moreover, we assessed the role of striatal patches in responding to conditioned stimuli and establishing the dopamine Reward Prediction Error (RPE) through a Pavlovian conditioning test in a Skinner box. Together, this work will provide novel insight into how the striatum and dopamine systems coordinate their activity to modify ongoing actions.
