Inactivation of the GluN1 subunit of the NMDA receptor modifies functions of dopaminoceptive neurons in the rat nucleus accumbens

Adaptive behavior, such as regulation of appetitive motivation or reward processing, is associated with plasticity of the brain’s dopamine system. We examined different types of adaptive behavior in the transgenic mouse line (NR1D1CreERT2) where the GluN1 subunit is selectively inactivated in dopaminoceptive neurons. We used electrophysiological recordings to investigate if functions of D1-expressing neurons are modified. In transgenic animals the amplitude of field potentials in the NAcc was not different form controls, however, LTP was reduced from 138% in control to 118% in D1ERT2 [Tg-N/0-N] animals. Recordings of spontaneous EPSCs from medium spiny neurons of the NAcc demonstrated that approximately 50% of the cells lacked the NMDAR-dependent component of sEPSCs. These results suggest that the mutation significantly alters functions of dopaminoceptive neurons.