Bidirectional coordination of actions and habits by TrkB in mice

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Elizabeth G. Pitts, Emory University; Dan C. Li, Emory University; Shannon L Gourley, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-03-14
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Journals - Option C
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2018
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-22560-x
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Scientific Reports
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 4495
• End Page: 4495
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by NIH MH101477.; The Yerkes National Primate Research Center is supported by the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs/OD P51 OD011132.; The Emory Viral Vector Core is supported by an NINDS Core Facilities grant, P30 NS055077.
• Keywords: STRIATAL CIRCUITS; Multidisciplinary Sciences; BDNF; PLASTICITY; Science & Technology - Other Topics; MESSENGER-RNA; NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR; ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX; BRAIN; RECEPTORS; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Psychology, Behavioral; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Specific corticostriatal structures and circuits are important for flexibly shifting between goal-oriented versus habitual behaviors. For example, the orbitofrontal cortex and dorsomedial striatum are critical for goal-directed action, while the dorsolateral striatum supports habits. To determine the role of neurotrophin signaling, we overexpressed a truncated, inactive form of tropomyosin receptor kinase B [also called tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB)], the high-affinity receptor for Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor, in the orbitofrontal cortex, dorsomedial striatum and dorsolateral striatum. Overexpression of truncated TrkB interfered with phosphorylation of full-length TrkB and ERK42/44, as expected. In the orbitofrontal cortex and dorsomedial striatum, truncated trkB overexpression also occluded the ability of mice to select actions based on the likelihood that they would be reinforced. Meanwhile, in the dorsolateral striatum, truncated trkB blocked the development of habits. Thus, corticostriatal TrkB-mediated plasticity appears necessary for balancing actions and habits.