Regulation of dopaminergic transmission and cocaine reward by the Clock gene.

Article Details

Citation
Copy to clipboard

McClung CA, Sidiropoulou K, Vitaterna M, Takahashi JS, White FJ, Cooper DC, Nestler EJ

Regulation of dopaminergic transmission and cocaine reward by the Clock gene.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Jun 28;102(26):9377-81. Epub 2005 Jun 20.

PubMed ID
15967985 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Although there are clear interactions between circadian rhythms and drug addiction, mechanisms for such interactions remain unknown. Here we establish a role for the Clock gene in regulating the brain's reward circuit. Mice lacking a functional Clock gene display an increase in cocaine reward and in the excitability of dopamine neurons in the midbrain ventral tegmental area, a key brain reward region. These phenotypes are associated with increased expression and phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase (the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis), as well as changes in several genes known to regulate dopamine activity in the ventral tegmental area. These findings demonstrate the involvement of a circadian-associated gene, Clock, in regulating dopamine function and cocaine reward.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs