Project Summary

Claudia Schmauss, M.D. (Independent Investigator 2000) of New York State Psychiatric Institute, will examine the distribution of a gene called c-fos in the forebrain of animals whose dopamine type 2 (D2) and type 3 (D3) receptors have been deleted (so-called “knockout mice”). C-fos is a molecular marker for neuronal activity. Dr. Schmauss will treat these mice with a single dose of a drug that stimulates dopamine type 1 (D1) receptors or with amphetamine. This experiment, and other proposed studies, will test whether the different types of pharmacological stimulation activate different neuronal circuitries. This work may lead to potential therapeutic benefit of intermittent activation of D1 receptors during chronic treatment with typical antipsychotic medications.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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