Figure 1: Ube3am−/p+ mice are hyper-motivated to self-stimulate TH-positive VTA-to-NAc terminals. | Nature Communications

Figure 1: Ube3am−/p+ mice are hyper-motivated to self-stimulate TH-positive VTA-to-NAc terminals.

From: Loss of UBE3A from TH-expressing neurons suppresses GABA co-release and enhances VTA-NAc optical self-stimulation

Figure 1

(a) Schematic representation of DIO-ChR2-eYFP viral transduction within the VTA along with NAc chronic fibre placements into THCRE-positive mice. (b) Immunohistochemistry of ChR2-eYFP (green), and DAPI (blue) in a THCRE::Ube3am−/p+ mouse. Scale bar, 500 μm. (c) Cumulative response plots showing nose pokes that trigger a 30 Hz, 473 nm stimulus (active nose pokes) in representative mice. (d) Average number of nose pokes for triggering (active nose pokes) or not triggering (inactive) 30 Hz optical stimulation across a 60-min session. THCRE::Ube3am−/p+ mice were significantly more motivated to trigger optical stimulation than THCRE::Ube3am+/p+ mice (n=7/group, one-way ANOVA, *P<0.05). All bars represent the mean±s.e.m.

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