Understand the underlying neuronal mechanisms of impulsive behaviors and behavioral addictions.
Abstract
Impulsive behaviors are related to psychiatric disorders such as behavioral addictions. Their underlying cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown but are suspected to implicate abnormal dopaminergic signaling in the motivational system and more specifically in a sub-neuronal population expressing the D2- type dopaminergic receptor (D2R-neurons). In a behavioral model of impulsive behaviors in rats induced by dopaminergic agonists developed by the laboratory, we will use transgenic rats and stereotaxic infusion of viral vectors to specifically manipulate the function of D2R-neurons. We will notably focus our investigation on the mTORC1 pathway because of its role in addictive processes and a microRNA potentially implicated in its regulation.
Methods
This project with combined stereotaxic infusion of viral vectors, behavioral evaluation of rodents and immunohistochemistry and imaging (fluorescent microscopy approaches).
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