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7096236 
Journal Article 
Disruption of EphA/ephrin-a signaling in the nigrostriatal system reduces dopaminergic innervation and dissociates behavioral responses to amphetamine and cocaine 
Sieber, BA; Kuzmin, A; Canals, JM; Danielsson, A; Paratcha, G; Arenas, E; Alberch, J; Ogren, SO; Ibáñez, CF; , 
2004 
1 
Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
ISSN: 1044-7431
EISSN: 1095-9327 
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE 
SAN DIEGO 
418-428 
English 
15234346 
WOS:000222651000005 
We have investigated functional roles of EphA/ephrin-A signaling in the development and function of the nigrostriatal system by overexpressing a soluble, broad-range EphA receptor antagonist in the central nervous system of transgenic mice. Adult transgenic mice showed a 30-40% reduction in the total volume of the substantia nigra (SN) without detectable differences in the number of dopaminergic neurons. Using fluorogold retrograde tracing from the striatum, we detected a 40-50% reduction in the number of dopaminergic neurons that could be traced from this structure in transgenic mice, suggesting that, a lower proportion of these cells were able to reach the striatum after disruption of EphA/ephrin-A signaling. In spite of this, total dopamine content in the striatum of transgenic mice was comparable to wild type. Analysis of locomotor activity and its regulation by pharmacological treatments that stimulate dopaminergic transmission revealed an unexpected dissociation of the behavioral responses to amphetamine and cocaine. In particular, transgenic mice were relatively insensitive to amphetamine while retaining normal responsiveness to cocaine, which, to the best of our knowledge, represents the first report of a dissociation of the behavioral responses to these two psychostimulants. Together, these results reveal an unexpected role for EphA/ephrin-A signaling in the normal connectivity and function of midbrain dopaminergic neurons.