Striatal adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) modulate striatal synaptic plasticity and instrumental learning, possibly by functional interaction with the dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) and metabotropic glutamate receptors 5 (mGluR5) through receptor-receptor heterodimers, but in vivo evidence for these interactions is lacking. Using in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA), we studied the subregional distribution of the A2AR-D2R and A2AR-mGluR5 heterodimer complexes in the striatum and their adaptive changes over the random interval and random ratio training of instrumental learning. After confirming the specificity of the PLA detection of the A2AR-D2R heterodimers with the A2AR knockout and D2R knockout mice, we detected a heterogeneous distribution of the A2AR-D2R heterodimer complexes in the striatum, being more abundant in the dorsolateral than the dorsomedial striatum. Importantly, habit formation after the random interval training was associated with the increased formation of the A2AR-D2R heterodimer complexes, with prominant increase in the dorsomedial striatum. Conversely, goal-directed behavior after the random ratio schedule was not associated with the adaptive change in the A2AR-D2R heterodimer complexes. In contrast to the A2AR-D2R heterodimers, the A2AR-mGluR5 heterodimers showed neither subregional variation in the striatum nor adaptive changes over either the random ratio (RR) or random interval (RI) training of instrumental learning. These findings suggest that development of habit formation is associated with increased formation of the A2AR-D2R heterodimer protein complexes which may lead to reduced dependence on D2R signaling in the striatum.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized pathologically by alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates and clinically by the motor as well as cognitive deficits, including impairments in sequence learning and habit learning. Using intracerebral injection of WT and A53T mutant α-Syn fibrils, we investigate the behavioral mechanism of α-Syn for procedure-learning deficit in PD by critically determining the α-Syn-induced effects on model-based goal-directed behavior, model-free (probability-based) habit learning, and hierarchically organized sequence learning. 1) Contrary to the widely held view of habit-learning deficit in early PD, α-Syn aggregates in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) and dorsolateral striatum (DLS) did not affect acquisition of habit learning, but selectively impaired goal-directed behavior with reduced value sensitivity. 2) α-Syn in the DLS (but not DMS) and SNc selectively impaired the sequence learning by affecting sequence initiation with the reduced first-step accuracy. 3) Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) antagonist KW6002 selectively improved sequence learning by preferentially improving sequence initiation and shift of sequence learning as well as behavioral reactivity. These findings established a casual role of α-Syn in the SN-DLS pathway in sequence-learning deficit and DMS α-Syn in goal-directed behavior deficit and suggest a novel therapeutic strategy to improve sequence-learning deficit in PD with enhanced sequence initiation by A2AR antagonists.
The balance and smooth shift between flexible, goal-directed behaviors and repetitive, habitual actions are critical to optimal performance of behavioral tasks. The striatum plays an essential role in control of goal-directed versus habitual behaviors through a rich interplay of the numerous neurotransmitters and neuromodulators to modify the input, processing and output functions of the striatum. The adenosine receptors (namely A2AR and A1R), with their high expression pattern in the striatum and abilities to interact and integrate dopamine, glutamate and cannabinoid signals in the striatum, may represent novel therapeutic targets for modulating instrumental behavior. In this study, we examined the effects of pharmacological blockade of the A2ARs and A1Rs on goal-directed versus habitual behaviors in different information processing phases of instrumental learning using a satiety-based instrumental behavior procedure. We found that A2AR antagonist acts at the coding, consolidation and expression phases of instrumental learning to modulate animals’ sensitivity to goal-directed valuation without modifying action-outcome contingency. However, pharmacological blockade and genetic knockout of A1Rs did not affect acquisition or sensitivity to goal-valuation of instrumental behavior. These findings provide pharmacological evidence for a potential therapeutic strategy to control abnormal instrumental behaviors associated with drug addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder by targeting the A2AR.
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