D4 receptor deficiency in mice has limited effects on impulsivity and novelty seeking

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2008 Sep;90(3):387-93. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2008.03.013. Epub 2008 Mar 28.

Abstract

Alleles of the human dopamine D(4) receptor (D(4)R) gene (DRD4.7) have repeatedly been found to correlate with novelty seeking, substance abuse, pathological gambling, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If these various psychopathologies are a result of attenuated D(4)R-mediated signaling, mice lacking D(4)Rs (D(4)KO) should be more impulsive than wild-type (WT) mice and exhibit more novelty seeking. However, in our study, D(4)KO and WT mice showed similar levels of impulsivity as measured by delay discounting performance and response inhibition on a Go/No-go test, suggesting that D(4)R-mediated signaling may not affect impulsivity. D(4)KO mice were more active than WT mice in the first 5 min of a novel open field test, suggesting greater novelty seeking. For both genotypes, more impulsive mice habituated less in the novel open field. These data suggest that the absence of D(4)Rs is not sufficient to cause psychopathologies associated with heightened impulsivity and novelty seeking.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cues
  • Exploratory Behavior / physiology*
  • Genotype
  • Impulsive Behavior / genetics*
  • Impulsive Behavior / psychology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4 / deficiency*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4 / genetics

Substances

  • Receptors, Dopamine D4