Knock-out of the critical nitric oxide synthase regulator DDAH1 in mice impacts amphetamine sensitivity and dopamine metabolism

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

Abstract

The enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of nitric oxide levels by degrading the main endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Growing evidence highlight the potential implication of DDAH/ADMA axis in the etiopathogenesis of several neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we sought to investigate the role of DDAH1 in behavioral endophenotypes with neuropsychiatric relevance. To achieve this, a global DDAH1 knock-out (DDAH1-ko) mouse strain was employed. Behavioral testing and brain region-specific neurotransmitter profiling have been conducted to assess the effect of both genotype and sex. DDAH1-ko mice exhibited increased exploratory behavior toward novel objects, altered amphetamine response kinetics and decreased dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) level in the piriform cortex and striatum. Females of both genotypes showed the most robust amphetamine response. These results support the potential implication of the DDAH/ADMA pathway in central nervous system processes shaping the behavioral outcome. Yet, further experiments are required to complement the picture and define the specific brain-regions and mechanisms involved.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)1097-1112
Seitenumfang16
FachzeitschriftJournal of neural transmission
Jahrgang130
Ausgabenummer9
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Sept. 2023
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMedCentral PMC10460711
Scopus 85148095306
ORCID /0000-0002-3188-8431/work/147674731

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Animals, Female, Mice, Amidohydrolases/genetics, Amphetamine/pharmacology, Dopamine, Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology, Genotype, Mice, Knockout, Nitric Oxide/metabolism, Nitric Oxide Synthase/genetics