Brief Communication abstract


Nature Neuroscience 10, 1395 - 1397 (2007)
Published online: 14 October 2007 | doi:10.1038/nn1987

Genetic control of instrumental conditioning by striatopallidal neuron–specific S1P receptor Gpr6

Mary Kay Lobo1,2,3, Yijun Cui1,2,3, Sean B Ostlund3,4, Bernard W Balleine3,4 & X William Yang1,2,3

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Instrumental conditioning allows animals to learn about the consequences of their own actions, but the underpinning molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here we show that the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor Gpr6 is selectively expressed in the striatopallidal neurons in the striatum. Gpr6-deficient mice showed reduced striatal cyclic AMP production in vitro and selective alterations in instrumental conditioning in vivo. Thus, Gpr6 is the first striatopallidal neuron–specific genetic regulator of instrumental conditioning in a mammal.

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  1. Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California at Los Angeles, 695 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
  2. Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, 695 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
  3. Brain Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, 695 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
  4. Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, 695 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.

Correspondence to: X William Yang1,2,3 e-mail: xwyang@mednet.ucla.edu

Correspondence to: Bernard W Balleine3,4 e-mail: balleine@psych.ucla.edu


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