Effects of 6-OHDA ablation of dopaminergic projections to the tail of the striatum on response to a multisensory threatening stimulus
Embargo Date
2028-02-10
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Midbrain dopaminergic inputs to the Tail of the Striatum (TS) have been implicated in several behaviors, including threat response. Previous research has shown that ablation of TS-projecting dopaminergic neurons with the dopamine and norepinephrine selective neurotoxin 6-OHDA causes deficits in avoiding threatening and novel sensory stimuli. We used a multisensory threatening stimulus to examine threat response in mice with 6-OHDA ablation of TS dopaminergic projections as well saline-control mice. In a paradigm mimicking daytime foraging conditions, water deprived mice were placed in a chamber with a nest area and an exploratory area with a water port. Every other session, the threatening stimulus would be triggered when the mice approached the water port.
6-OHDA mice were more likely to lick the water port during the first exposure to the threatening stimulus, but there was no significant difference between 6-OHDA mice and controls during following threat days. Our results showed that 6-OHDA ablation of dopaminergic TS projections impairs the initial threat response, but leaves learning to adapt to a threatening stimulus intact.
Description
2025