Heterozygous Hnrnph1 deletion decreases methamphetamine reinforcement, reward, and dopamine release and opposing changes in synaptosomal mitochondrial protein levels

ABSTRACT: Individual variation in the addiction liability of amphetamines can be explained, in part, by heritable genetic factors. We recently identified Hnrnph1 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1) as a quantitative trait gene underlying variance in the locomotor stimulant response to methamphetamine in mice. The functional consequences of Hnrnph1 mutation on MA reward and reinforcement and the mechanisms by which Hnrnph1 alters methamphetamine sensitivity are unknown but could involve functional perturbations in dopamine neurotransmission. Here, we showed that mice with a heterozygous mutation in the first coding exon of Hnrnph1 (H1+/-) exhibited reduced methamphetamine reinforcement and intake and dose-dependent changes in methamphetamine reward as measured via conditioned place preference. Accordingly, H1+/- mice showed a robust decrease in methamphetamine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens with no change in baseline dopamine levels, dopamine transporter levels, or dopamine uptake. Surprisingly, immunohistochemical and immunoblot staining of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and their forebrain projections for tyrosine hydroxylase did not reveal any obvious changes in intensity or numbers of cells stained or in the number of forebrain TH-positive puncta. Finally, we observed a two-fold increase in hnRNP H protein in the striatal synaptosme of H1+/- mice; proteomic analysis identified an increased abundance of several mitochondrial complex I and V proteins. We conclude that H1+/- deficits in behavior are associated with blunted MA-induced dopamine release and an upregulation of synaptic mitochondrial proteins.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive

ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (ncbitaxon:10090)

SUBMITTER: Andrew Emili  

PROVIDER: MSV000084149 | MassIVE | Mon Jul 29 08:33:00 BST 2019

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PXD014813

REPOSITORIES: MassIVE