FISHDOPA · Dopaminergic neurons and the reward system in fish: a functional neuroanatomical multidisciplinary study
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-03-01 → 2018-02-28
- EU contribution
- €185,857
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
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Results in brief
Dopaminergic neurons and the reward system in fish: a functional neuroanatomical multidisciplinary study
The current project aims at elucidating the role of the dopaminergic (DA) system in regulation and control of reward systems in fish. DA has been known to regulate reward, as well as other vital neurological functions, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not fully understood. The DA system has also been associated with several neuropsychological illnesses and therefore, the study of DA regulation is of great importance. In mammals, DA neurons originate in the midbrain and reward stimuli activation and processing has been linked to activation of the midbrain DA neural populations, which in turn activate forebrain networks, such as the amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. In this way, the DA system helps animals react, process and integrate reward stimuli with internal physiological cues in order to display an adaptive behavioral response. In this context, recent studies point to the DA system as also the main signaling center for reward in fish. However, a thorough functional characterization of DA neurons to reward stimuli in fishes is still lacking. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model species possess several advantages, such as, a sequenced and annotated genome, a comparatively small and easy to map nervous system (particularly in larvae), ease of maintenance, a substantial use by the scientific community and that a great deal of its biology has already been studied. Notably, the transparent zebrafish larvae have proven to be an ideal candidate for the study of large neuronal networks and populations in vivo by the use of novel imaging technologies, such as calcium imaging and optogenetics. Therefore, we have used the zebrafish model to study the function of DA neurons in reward processing. That is, we wished to establish which forebrain DA neuronal populations, brain targets and signaling molecules are active during reward conditions, as well as establish a causal relationship between these areas and the control of reward-motivated behavior in fish.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The current proposal aims at elucidating the role of the dopaminergic (DA) system in regulation and control of reward systems. The study of DA regulation is of great importance since it has been known to regulate reward, as well as other vital neurological functions and several neuropsychological illnesses, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not fully understood. With the emerging technologies of in vivo imaging, optogenetics and transgenic techniques, it is today possible to better study the molecular mechanisms underlying reward behaviour. To this end, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an excellent model system where these tools are amenable for complex network analyses. It is believed that, as in mammals, DA neurons provide a central role in signal and response to salient stimuli. Therefore in this project we plan to 1. Establish which forebrain DA neuronal populations, brain targets and signalling molecules are active during reward conditions and2. Establish a causal relationship between these areas and the control of reward-motivated behaviour in fish. We will conduct this research by pinpointing DA neuron populations active during reward situations and their target areas by in vivo calcium imaging analysis and corroborating established focus brain networks by quantifying c-Fos and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression by means of in situ hybridization (WP1). Thereafter, we will elucidate target molecules that are important during reward processing in established networks, by laser microdissection and a targeted and non-targeted approach, i.e. qPCR and RNA sequencing, respectively (WP2). Finally we will demonstrate causality between focus brain networks and reward oriented behaviour by optical and genetical regulation, i.e. optogenetics, of neural population activity (WP3). Extrapolating information obtained from these results could help predict neurobiological principles that could be the basis for therapeutic interventions.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- GOETEBORGS UNIVERSITET · GoeteborgCoordinatorSweden
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union