Localized disruption of Narp in medial prefrontal cortex blocks reinforcer devaluation performance

Learn Mem. 2010 Nov 22;17(12):620-6. doi: 10.1101/lm.1937210. Print 2010 Dec.

Abstract

Neuronal activity regulated pentraxin (Narp) is a secreted protein that regulates α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptors (AMPAR) aggregation and synaptogenesis. Mapping of Narp-positive neurons in brain has revealed it is prominently expressed in several limbic system projection pathways. Consistent with this localization pattern, Narp knockout mice show deficits in using the current value of a reinforcer to guide behavior, a critical function of the limbic system. To help assess whether this behavioral deficit is due to impairment of synaptogenesis during development or in modulating synaptic signaling in the mature brain, we have used a dominant negative Narp viral construct which blocks trafficking of endogenous Narp to axons. Focal injection of this viral construct into the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of adult mice, a region containing Narp-positive projection neurons, blocked reinforcer devaluation. Thus, these results indicate that Narp released from mPFC neurons plays a key role in mediating synaptic changes underlying instrumental reinforcer devaluation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • C-Reactive Protein / deficiency
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Cholera Toxin / metabolism
  • Conditioning, Operant / physiology*
  • Genetic Vectors / metabolism
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / deficiency
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Nucleus Accumbens / physiology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Reinforcement, Psychology*

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • neuronal pentraxin
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Cholera Toxin