Regulator of G protein Signaling-12 (RGS12) in Dopamine and Seretonin Homeostasis and Synaptic Clearance

Jessica Underwood*, James Lamp*, Benjamin Menarchek*, Allison White, and Vincent Setola
West Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience and Behaviorial Medicine, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Morgantown, WV 26505

Presentation No.: 12

Assigned Category (Presentation Format): Biological & Health Sciences (Oral Presentations)

Student’s Major: Chemistry

Regulator of G protein Signaling-12 (RGS12) is a protein expressed in areas of the brain implicated in the actions of psychostimulants. To address whether RGS12 plays a role in the behavioral and biochemical effects of psychostimulants, our group has been studying mice lacking RGS12. Unlike wild-type mice, RGS12-null mice exhibit essentially no acute locomotor stimulation when treated with such psychostimulants as amphetamine and cocaine. Previous work from our group has shown that absence of RGS12 increases the expresssion and function of proteins involved in synaptic clearance of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT), two key neurotransmitters engaged in psychostimulant actions. As such, we hypothesize that mice missing RGS12 will display altered tissular levels/homeostasis of DA and 5-HT. Further, we predict that mice lacking RGS12 will more efficiently clear psychostimulant-induced increases in DA and 5-HT from relevant brain synapses. We will test our hypotheses using optimized high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-sensitivity electrochemical detection. Tissues samples and extracellular intracerebral microdialysates will be subject to our analytical methods to assess the RGS12’s role in DA/5-HT homeostasis and clearance.

Funding: Funded in part by NIH/NIDA U18DA052497 (to VS) and NIH/NIDA R36DA051703 (to ANW). ANW acknowledges support from NIH/NIGMS T32GM132494.

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: Other