Reinforcing and locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine are absent in mGluR5 null mutant mice

Nat Neurosci. 2001 Sep;4(9):873-4. doi: 10.1038/nn0901-873.

Abstract

Both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are involved in the behavioral effects of pyschostimulants; however, the specific contributions of individual mGluR subtypes remain unknown. Here we show that mice lacking the mGluR5 gene do not self-administer cocaine, and show no increased locomotor activity following cocaine treatment, despite showing cocaine-induced increases in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) dopamine (DA) levels similar to wild-type (WT) mice. These results demonstrate a significant contribution of mGlu5 receptors to the behavioral effects of cocaine, and suggest that they may be involved in cocaine addiction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cocaine / administration & dosage
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout / genetics
  • Motor Activity / drug effects*
  • Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / deficiency
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / genetics
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / physiology*
  • Reference Values
  • Reinforcement, Psychology*
  • Self Administration

Substances

  • Grm5 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • Cocaine