Sensitivity to Dopamine D1/D2 Receptor Stimulation in Mice Lacking Connexin-32 or Connexin-36

...................................................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 DOPAMINERGIC PATHWAYS............................................................................1 BASAL GANGLIA .................................................................................................2 MULTIPLE DOPAMINE RECEPTORS................................................................3 D1/D2 REQUISITE SYNERGISM.........................................................................4 BREAKDOWN IN D1/D2 SYNERGISM ..............................................................6 D1/D2 RECEPTOR CO-LOCALIZATION............................................................7 INTERNEURONAL COMMUNICATION..........................................................10 ELECTROTONIC COUPLING VIA GAP JUNCTIONS ....................................11 HYPOTHESIS AND RATIONALE......................................................................12 METHODS ........................................................................................................................13 ANIMALS .............................................................................................................13 APPARATUS ........................................................................................................15 DRUG TREATMENTS.........................................................................................15 PROCEDURE........................................................................................................16 DATA ANALYSIS................................................................................................17 RESULTS ..........................................................................................................................18 CONNEXIN 32......................................................................................................18 CONNEXIN 36......................................................................................................19 DISCUSSION....................................................................................................................22 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................28 VITA..................................................................................................................................33