Mice lacking the dopamine transporter (DAT-KO) were used to test the effect of constitutive hyperdopaminergia on the durability of behavioral sensitization to both cocaine and ethanol. The effect of the DAT mutation was simultaneously tested on two inbred genetic backgrounds, C57Bl/6 and DBA/2, chosen for their contrasting addiction-related

phenotypes, as well as on the hybrid R788 in vivo F(1) offspring of a cross between C57Bl/6 and DBA/2 congenic strains.

In spite of the absence of the DAT, mutant mice were able to develop long-term expression of sensitization to cocaine. Compared to their wild-type littermates, DAT-KO mice exhibited a markedly increased acute ethanol-evoked locomotor activity and developed stronger behavioral sensitization to ethanol during both induction and long-term expression phases. selleck kinase inhibitor Interestingly, this increased ethanol-induced sensitization was potentiated by the DBA/2 genetic background.

These findings,

showing that DAT deletion facilitates sensitization, suggest a cross-sensitization-like effect between genetic- and pharmacological-induced hyperdopaminergia.”
“In a simple cellular automata model it is shown that self-organization of spatial pattern in a community of strong competitors may generate a previously unrecognized mechanism of species richness determination. Employing some well-known general properties of interspecific competition, we elaborate a theoretical framework that generates both spatial mosaics and spiral waves within the same conceptual framework, dependent on the covariance of competition. We demonstrate that the qualitative nature of the spatial pattern depends on the “”balance”" of competition and that the number of species retained in the community depends on this spatial patterning. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Acute

alcohol intoxication induces a selective impairment of recognition memory associated with conscious recollection whilst recognition based on familiarity is left intact.

We aimed to further elucidate the acute effects of alcohol on recognition memory by assessing three different doses of alcohol and examining the way in which this affected the recollection and https://www.selleck.cn/products/LDE225(NVP-LDE225).html familiarity components of recognition memory in comparison to a placebo group.

A double-blind independent design was used, and participants received either alcohol (0.4, 0.6 or 0.8 g/kg) or a placebo drink. Participants encoded word pairs with depth of processing manipulated under generate and read conditions. Recognition memory was assessed and recollective awareness was examined through use of the remember-know procedure.

Alcohol produced a dose-dependent reduction in recognition memory associated with recollection, evidenced by decreases in the number of correctly recognised items with ‘remember’ responses compared to placebo.