Analyses of neural mechanisms of the behavioral addiction using a novel operant running wheel paradigm

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18548
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 10:Psychology and related fields
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Kaneda Katsuyuki 金沢大学, 薬学系, 教授 (30421366)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 行動嗜癖 / オペラント課題 / ランニングホイール / 依存症 / ドパミン / セロトニン / 側坐核 / フィバーフォトメトリ－

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is necessary to develop treatments for behavioral addictions, such as gaming, internet, etc. However, the pathological mechanism of addiction is still unclear. In this study, by focusing on running wheel (RW) rotation behavior of mice, we have constructed a novel experimental animal model system. We constructed a task in which mice can rotate the RW by releasing the RW brake after a certain number of nose pokes, which enabled us to evaluate the motivation for the RW. The results suggest that neurotransmission via dopamine D1, D2 receptors and serotonin 5-HT2C receptors in the nucleus accumbens and reduced nucleus accumbens neural activity were important for the motivation for RW.

Free Research Field

神経薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

コロナ禍によりゲーム・ネット嗜癖症者が増加した。よって、科学的根拠に基づいた治療的介入法の開発は喫緊の課題である。本研究により、側坐核でのドパミンD1、D2受容体およびセロトニン5-HT2C受容体を介した神経伝達が行動嗜癖の病態メカニズムとして重要である可能性が示唆されたことから、これらを標的とした治療薬の開発に繋げることで、行動嗜癖という社会課題の解決に貢献することが期待される。