Molecular, Cellular and Behavioral Aspects of Methamphetamine Addiction in Dopamine D3 Knock-Out Mice

The main purpose of this project is to use dopamine D3 receptor knock out mice to investigate the methamphetamine addiction. Psychostimulants abuse would activate the mesolimbic dopamine system and evokes aberrant behavioral, known as behavioral sensitization. Of particular, the dopamine receptor-mediated cellular signalings are critical for the expression of behaviroal sensitizatoin. Since clinically utilized D2 antagonist suffered with lack of subtype selectivity, we plan to take advantage of dopamine D3 receptor knock-out mice to (a) screen the effect of D2 antagonist against behavioral sensitization; (b) investigate the development of behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine and (c) examine the possible neurochemical changes in chronic methamphetamine treated rats. It is expected the results could delineate the role of dopamine D3 receptor in methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization, and provide valuable information in drug addiction prevention.

Project ID:PG9301-0913
External Project ID:DOH93-NNB-1026