In vivo NMDA/dopamine interaction resulting in Fos production in the limbic system and basal ganglia of the mouse brain

Glutamatergic and dopaminergic Glutamatergic and dopaminergic effects on mo lecular processes have been extensively investigated in the basal ganglia. It has been demonstrated that NMDA and dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors inter act in the regulation of signal transduction and induction of transcription factors. In the present experiments, NMDA/dopamine interactions were inves tigated in the normosensitive caudate nucleus, hippocampus and amygdala by monitoring Fos production. We demonstrated that NMDA and the D-1 receptor a gonist SKF 38393 triggered Fos levels in a distinct, non-overlapping and re gion-specific pattern. NMDA injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) elevated Fos levels in all hippocampal subfields and the central amygdala, whereas SKF 3 8393 triggered Fos production in basomedial, cortical, medial amygdala and caudate nucleus. The NMDA receptor antagonist CGS 19755 prevented NMDA- and SKF 38393-triggered Fos production in all investigated brain areas. Simila rly, the D-1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 inhibited the effects produced b y SKF 38393 or NMDA. The D-2 receptor antagonist sulpiride exerted synergis tic and antagonistic effects on NMDA- and SKF 38393-triggered Fos productio n, in a region specific manner. These data suggest that NMDA and dopamine r eceptors regulate Fos production within I-he limbic system and basal,gangli a through regionally differentiated but interdependent actions. (C) 2000 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.