The cerebellum is not only responsible for motor and sensory functions; it has recently been shown that it is also involved in our social behavior. In a study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, in which Dr Laura Cutando is the first author, researchers analyzed how it occurs in mice and found out that dopamine is the neurotransmitter in charge of this effect.
Until recently, emotions and our social behavior were thought to be regulated primarily in a set of brain areas called the limbic system through a neurotransmitter called dopamine. This region is where the processes of motivation and reward take place. However, several recent studies have suggested that the cerebellum, a region primarily involved in motor control, also plays an important role, although it was not clear how this effect occurred. In this study, in which also participated Dr Emma Puighermanal and Dr Albert Quintana, they show that, contrary to what was thought, there are type 2 dopamine receptors (also called D2) in mice cerebellum, and they are those modulating, in this area of the brain, social aspects of behavior.
Through various techniques, such as histological analysis, the study of cell RNA, or the observation of 3D imaging, researchers have observed that a group of cells in the cerebellum, called Purkinje cells, present D2 receptors. “This is a key finding, because it was thought that the existence of such receptors in this area was almost non-existent”, explains Dr Emmanuel Valjent, researcher at INSERM (France) and coordinator of the article.
To study their function, genetic editing techniques have been used to overexpress or remove D2 receptors in Purkinje cells from the cerebellum of adult mice. Then, they analyzed how these animals interact with other unknown mice. “We have demonstrated, through behavioral tests, that D2 modulates social interaction. Also, we did not notice any difference in the ability of these animals to perform motor tasks or coordinate movements, so these functions would be controlled by other receptors”, explains Dr Cutando.
This study has been carried out thanks to the multidisciplinary collaboration of INSERM (France), the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), and our research group at the INC-UAB. And it is key for understanding mental disorders in which social behavior is altered; diseases for which often it is difficult to find treatments that improve the quality of life of patients and their relatives.
Read the article (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-022-01092-8)
