JPWO2011135632A1 - A method for analyzing neurotransmission in the basal ganglia neural circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for analyzing neurotransmission in a neural circuit of the basal ganglia and a method for searching for a substance that can affect the neurotransmission of the neural circuit in the basal ganglia. Such problems include analyzing the neurotransmission of the basal ganglia neural circuit by using a transgenic non-human animal that blocks the direct and / or indirect basal ganglia, and the basal ganglia. It is solved by finding that it is possible to search for substances that can affect neurotransmission in the neural circuit of the nucleus.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for analyzing neurotransmission of a neural circuit in the basal ganglia and a method for searching for a substance that can affect the neurotransmission in the neural circuit of the basal ganglia.

  The basal ganglia is a cranial nerve site that is important for the control of motor balance and learning based on reward, and its disorders lead to neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and drug addiction. The striatal projection neurons are GABAergic medium spiny cells, and are dichotomized into striatal nigra neurons that form the direct path and striatal pallidum neurons that form the indirect path from the projection destination. The Input from these two pathways is integrated in the substantia nigra / ventral tegmental area to control the dynamic balance of the basal ganglia-thalamus-cortex circuit.

  In recent years, it has become possible to label striatal substantia nigra cells and striatal pallidum neurons using technology using BAC transgenic mice. It has been shown to express internal information molecules (Non-patent Document 1). In such BAC transgenic mice, the D1 dopamine receptor or D2 dopamine receptor promoter is used to express fluorescent proteins, but it is expressed not only in the target medium-sized spinous cells but also in interneurons in the striatum. Lacks specificity. The striatal substantia nigra neurons and striatal pallidal neurons are a mixture of the same number in the striatum and are similar in size, morphology, and electrophysiological properties. It is impossible to analyze how neural information is processed and integrated.

Techniques for selectively and reversibly blocking neurotransmission of cerebellar granule cells (Non-patent Document 2, Patent Document 1) are disclosed. In Non-Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 1, a transgenic mouse having a tetracycline-activated transcription factor gene (rtTA) under the GABA _A receptor α6 subunit promoter and a green fluorescent protein GFP downstream of the tetracycline responsive element and the CMV promoter. And a tetanus toxin fusion gene have been produced, and these mice are crossed to produce a double transgenic mouse.

When doxycycline, a derivative of tetracycline, is administered to this double transgenic mouse, rtTA selectively expressed in cerebellar granule cells is activated by the GABA _A receptor α6 subunit promoter, and the tetracycline response element on the second transgene is activated. It expresses a fusion protein of GFP and tetanus toxin. Tetanus toxin cleaves the synaptic exocytosis-related protein VAMP2 and suppresses neurotransmitter release. When doxycycline is discontinued, rtTA is inactivated, tetanus toxin expression is lost, and neurotransmission is resumed by newly born VAMP2. With this technique, it was possible to selectively and reversibly block nerve transmission from cerebellar granule cells without inhibiting nerve transmission of other neural circuits (Non-patent Document 3). Similar techniques are applied to the hippocampal and retinal neural circuits (Non-Patent Documents 4 and 5).

  Substance P and enkephalin promoters are known as promoters with higher specificity in the striatum, but they are widely expressed in other brain regions such as the cerebral cortex and spinal cord. There is no report on a system that specifically blocks the neural circuit of the basal ganglia.

JP2003-9888

Valjent E. et al., (2009) Trends Neurosci., 32, 538-547 Yamamoto, M., et al., (2003) J. Neurosci., 23, 6759-6767 Wada, N., et al., (2007) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104, 16690-16695 Nakashiba, T., et al., (2008) Science, 319, 1260-1264 Kerschensteiner, D., et al., (2009) Nature 460, 1016-1020

  The present invention relates to a method for analyzing neurotransmission in the neural circuit of the brain, particularly the basal ganglia, and a method for searching for substances that can affect the neurotransmission in the cerebral neural circuit, particularly the basal ganglia. The issue is to provide.

  As a result of intensive studies in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have used a transgenic non-human animal in which a direct path and / or an indirect path is blocked among neural circuits of the basal ganglia. It is possible to analyze the neurotransmission of the neural circuit of the cerebrum, especially the basal ganglia, and to search for substances that can affect the neurotransmission of the cerebral neural circuit, particularly the basal ganglia The present invention has been completed. Specifically, a transgenic non-human animal that blocks the direct and / or indirect route is prepared by preparing a gene expression cassette having a promoter of substance P and enkephalin, and using the gene expression cassette as a mouse capable of expressing a neurotoxin. It has been found that by introducing locally into the striatum, a transgenic mouse in which a direct path and / or an indirect path of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia is reversibly blocked can be produced.

That is, this invention consists of the following.
1. A method for searching for a substance that can affect neurotransmission in the cranial nerve circuit, including the following steps:
(A) administering a test substance to a transgenic non-human animal that blocks a direct path and / or an indirect path in the neural circuit of the basal ganglia, and
(B) comparing the neurotransmission index of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia between when the test substance is administered and when not administered, and the test substance in which the change occurs in the neuronal circuit of the brain neural circuit Selecting as a substance that can be affected.
2. The transgenic non-human animal has a stimulating substance response factor sequence and a gene encoding a protein having a function of inhibiting neurotransmission, and is specifically activated in the striatum nigra neurons 1. A transgenic non-human animal having a promoter that is activated and / or a promoter that is specifically activated in striatal pallidum neurons and a gene encoding a stimulator-dependent transcription factor protein, The described search method.
3. 3. The search method according to item 1 or 2, wherein the neurotransmission index of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia is behavior.
4). The search method according to item 1, which is one of the following:
(I) A substance that can affect neurotransmission in the cranial nerve circuit is a substance that can affect neurotransmission in the direct tract, and the neurotransmission index of the neuronal circuit in the basal ganglia is related to drug dependence and reward learning Or (ii) a substance that can affect neurotransmission in the cranial nerve circuit is a substance that can affect neurotransmission in the indirect path, and the neurotransmission index in the neural circuit of the basal ganglia is related to avoidance learning It is an indicator.
5. 5. The search method according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein in the step (a), a test substance is administered after administering a dependent drug to the transgenic non-human animal.
6). 6. The search method according to any one of 1 to 5 above, which comprises a step of administering a substance that cancels block of a neural circuit to the transgenic non-human animal.
7). 7. The searching method according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the substance capable of affecting neurotransmission of the cranial nerve circuit is a substance capable of treating or preventing a neuropsychiatric disorder.
8). A method for analyzing neurotransmission of a cerebral nerve circuit using a transgenic non-human animal that blocks a direct path and / or an indirect path among neural circuits of the basal ganglia.
9. 9. The analysis method according to item 8 above, comprising a step of administering a drug to the transgenic non-human animal.
10. 10. The analysis method according to 8 or 9 above, which comprises a step of administering a substance that cancels blockage of a neural circuit to the transgenic non-human animal.
11. 11. The analysis method according to item 9 or 10, wherein the drug is an addictive drug and is performed for analyzing a disease state of drug dependence.
12 A promoter that is specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons and / or a promoter that is specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons, and encodes a stimulator-dependent transcription factor protein downstream thereof A viral vector having a gene to be
13. Among the neural circuits of the basal ganglia, a transgenic non-human animal that blocks a direct path and / or an indirect path has a stimulator response factor sequence and a gene encoding a protein having a function of preventing neurotransmission, A promoter that is specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons and / or a promoter that is specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons, and a gene encoding a stimulator-dependent transcription factor protein A transgenic non-human animal having a striatum.
14 13. The promoter that is specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons is a substance P promoter, and the promoter that is specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons is the enkephalin promoter. A transgenic non-human animal according to 1.

  In the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention, it becomes possible to realize long-term reversible neurotransmission block without inducing irreversible cell death in the direct and / or indirect route of the basal ganglia. It becomes possible to approach the control mechanism of the neural network. In the analysis method of the present invention, it is possible to analyze the pathological condition related to the neural circuit of the basal ganglia and the mechanism of nerve transmission in the neural circuit. Can be directly linked to preventive drug discovery. Furthermore, according to the search method of the present invention, it is possible to easily and effectively screen candidate compounds for treating or preventing a pathological condition related to the neural circuit of the basal ganglia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure explaining the transgenic mouse using the promoter of substance P or enkephalin, tetanus toxin (TN), and a tetracycline expression control system (Example 1). A is a schematic diagram of a system in a transgenic mouse which is one embodiment of the present invention. The upper diagram shows the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector construct, and the lower diagram shows the system mechanism in the transgenic mouse. B is a diagram showing reversible expression of GFP-TN in the striatum tissue of TN transgenic mice injected with AAV. A band shows the result of the western blotting by a GFP antibody. C is a figure which shows the result of the western blotting by a VAMP2 antibody. The 12 kDa band represents the cleaved VAMP2 fragment, and the 18 kDa band represents uncleaved VAMP2. (Example 1) which is a schematic diagram of a basal ganglia neural circuit. S represents striatal nigra neurons, and E represents striatal pallidal neurons. The direct path of the basal ganglia enters directly from the striatum to the substantia nigra / ventral tegmental area (SNr / VTA). The basal ganglia indirect tract is input from the striatum to the substantia nigra / ventral tegmental area (SNr / VTA) via the pallidum (GP) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN). X indicates the site of the neural circuit blocked in the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention. The white arrow indicates excitatory neurotransmission, and the black arrow indicates inhibitory neurotransmission. (Example 2) which is a figure which shows the tissue image of the transgenic mouse striatal body inject | poured with AAV. A shows a Nissl stained image. B shows the immunohistochemical image using the antibody with respect to a dopamine transporter. C shows an in situ hybridization histochemical image using an RNA probe for the full length of SP cDNA or full length of Enk cDNA labeled with ³⁵ S. 2 shows a double immunohistochemical image showing the expression of cell-specific tetanus toxin (Example 2). A shows a double immunohistochemical image in the striatum of a transgenic mouse injected with an AAV construct (V-S-tTA) carrying a substance P (SP) promoter. PPTA is an immunohistochemical image using an antibody against the precursor of SP. The horizontal bar indicates a scale of 10 μm. B shows a double immunohistochemical image in the striatum of a transgenic mouse injected with an AAV construct (V-E-tTA) carrying an enkephalin (Enk) promoter. PPE is an immunohistochemical image using an antibody against the precursor of Enk. The horizontal bar indicates a scale of 10 μm. It is a double immunohistochemical image which shows that a tetanus toxin does not express to a striatal interneuron (Example 2). The horizontal bar indicates a scale of 10 μm. (Example 3) which is a figure which shows the direct path-specific nerve transmission block in the substantia nigra part in the transgenic mouse which inject | poured V-S-tTA. A shows an electrophysiological response in the substantia nigra-like portion immediately after the striatum of a transgenic mouse injected with V-S-tTA or V-E-tTA is electrically stimulated. Arrows indicate the timing of electrical stimulation in the striatum. B shows the magnitude of a short latency electrophysiological response sensitive to bicuculline. The bar graph shows the mean and standard error of the maximum values of electrophysiological responses (4-5 doses) within 10 milliseconds of striatal stimulation. ** indicates a significant difference of P <0.01 by statistical analysis, and n.s. indicates no statistically significant difference. (Example 4) which is a figure which shows the reversible abnormal rotation behavior of the transgenic mouse which inject | poured V-S-tTA (A) or V-E-tTA (B) into the unilateral striatum. The bar graph shows the average and standard error of the number of rotations of 5 animals. ** indicates a significant difference of P <0.01 by statistical analysis. It is a figure which shows the analysis result regarding the acute reaction by methamphetamine and cocaine (Example 5). A and B are 60% after administration of saline or 2 mg / kg methamphetamine (Meth), respectively, in transgenic mice that have undergone direct path block (D-RNB) or indirect path block (I-RNB) of the striatum. Shows the amount of movement in minutes. The bar graph shows the average and standard error of 5 or 6 moving distances. ** indicates a significant difference of P <0.01, and n.s. indicates no statistically significant difference. C and D are those for 10 minutes after administration of physiological saline or 10 mg / kg cocaine in transgenic mice with direct path blockage (D-RNB) or indirect path block (I-RNB) of the nucleus accumbens. Indicates the amount of behavior. The bar graph shows the average and standard error of the 8 moving distances. ** indicates a significant difference of P <0.01. E and F are pallidal bulbs (E) and black 30 minutes after administration of saline or cocaine using transgenic mice that have undergone direct path block (D-RNB) or indirect path block (I-RNB). The number of c-fos mRNA positive cells in the reticuloform area / ventral tegmental area (F) is shown. The bar graph shows the average number of cells per unit area and standard error in 4 to 6 brain regions. ** indicates a significant difference of P <0.01, * indicates a significant difference of P <0.05, and n.s. indicates no statistically significant difference. It is a figure which shows the analysis result regarding the adaptive response by cocaine (Example 6). A and B are diagrams showing changes in the amount of behavior of translocation in transgenic mice subjected to direct path blockage (D-RNB) or indirect path blockage (I-RNB) of the nucleus accumbens by repeated administration of cocaine, respectively. . The line graph shows the average and standard error of the movement distance of 8 animals for 10 minutes. ** and *** indicate significant differences between each RNB and wild type mouse, respectively, P <0.01 and P <0.001. # Indicates a significant difference P <0.05 between day 5 and day 33 in D-RNB. n.s. indicates no significant difference. C and D are diagrams showing the results of a conditioned place preference test by repeated administration of cocaine. The bar graph shows the average time of place preference (place preference to cocaine room) by subtracting physiological saline administration and stay time of the conditioned room from the stay time of 6 to 8 cocaine administration and conditioned room. Standard error is shown. ** indicates a significant difference P <0.01. It is a figure which shows the analysis result regarding reward learning and avoidance learning (Example 7). A and B are figures which show the result of the conditioned place preference test by chocolate. The bar graph shows the average and standard error of time (place preference to the chocolate room) that shows place preference by subtracting the normal food intake and the stay time of the conditioned room from the stay time of the chocolate intake and the conditioned room Indicates. ** indicates a significant difference P <0.01. C, D, and F are figures which show the result of the inhibitory avoidance task by one trial. The bar graph shows the average time and standard error to enter 6-7 darkrooms. * Indicates a significant difference P <0.05. E is a figure which shows the fear reaction with respect to the electric shock given in 3 minutes, 4 minutes, and 5 minutes shown by the arrow. The line graph shows the mean (4-9 animals) and standard error of the percentage of freezing response shown 1 minute after the electric shock.

  The basal ganglia is a cranial nerve site that is important for learning based on motor control and reward systems. In the basal ganglia, dopamine and acetylcholine are input by medium spiny cells, which are responsible for the output of the striatum and nucleus accumbens. The path of output is largely divided into a direct path that projects from the striatum nigra neurons to the substantia nigra-like part and an indirect path that outputs from the striatum pallidum neurons via the pallidum. Nevertheless, information processing and control mechanisms for direct and indirect routes have not been clarified.

  In order to investigate the control mechanism of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia, the present inventors expressed the tetanus toxin TN in a specific way in the basal ganglia, in a tetracycline-dependent manner, and the synaptic vesicle opening control protein VAMP2 We constructed a system that reversibly inhibits synaptic activity. Specifically, it was performed as follows.

  First, it has a structure that expresses tetracycline-dependent transcription factors using substance P and enkephalin promoters that are specifically expressed in striatal nigra neurons and striatal pallidal neurons in the basal ganglia. A gene was prepared, and an adeno-associated virus carrying the gene was prepared. This virus was injected into the striatum of a transgenic mouse having a tetracycline responsive element and a tetanus toxin (Non-patent Document 2) to prepare a double transgenic mouse. It was found that neurotransmission in the direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia can be specifically and reversibly blocked by administering or not administering doxycycline, which is a tetracycline analog, to the created double transgenic mice.

  Furthermore, when the virus was administered to the unilateral striatum of the double transgenic mouse, the effect on the rotation behavior by blocking the direct path and / or indirect path was observed. In drug dependence, reward learning, avoidance learning, etc. They found that neurotransmission in the direct and indirect pathways has a different role. That is, it was suggested that the direct path is involved in drug dependence, reward learning, and the like, and that the indirect path is involved in avoidance learning (FIG. 2).

  Until now, different roles of neurotransmission in drug dependence on direct and indirect routes have not been reported. The present inventors have found that by using the double transgenic mouse, the control mechanism of the cranial nerve circuit can be elucidated in more detail by distinguishing the functions of the direct path and / or the indirect path. The elucidation of such a mechanism is considered to be directly linked to drug discovery such as therapeutic / prophylactic drugs such as drug dependence. In addition, the present inventors pay attention to the mechanism of neurotransmission in the direct and indirect pathways obtained by the double transgenic mouse, and influence the neurotransmission in the brain, particularly in the direct and / or indirect pathways. Completed a method to search for the affected substances. Substances that affect nerve transmission in the brain, particularly the direct and / or indirect pathways, are expected to be therapeutic / preventive drugs for drug dependence and the like.

(Transgenic non-human animals)
The transgenic non-human animal of the present invention is a transgenic non-human animal in which the direct pathway and / or the indirect pathway are blocked in the neural circuit of the basal ganglia. The transgenic non-human animal has a stimulant substance response factor sequence and a gene encoding a protein having a function of inhibiting neurotransmission, and a striatal body, a substance P promoter and / or an enkephalin promoter, and a stimulant substance A transgenic non-human animal or a part thereof having a gene encoding a dependent transcription factor protein. The part of the transgenic non-human animal in the present invention includes not only organs such as brain obtained from the transgenic non-human animal, but also striatal cultured nerve cells, striatal slice culture and the like.

  The cells that make up the direct and indirect channels of the basal ganglia are striatal nigra neurons and striatal pallidal neurons, respectively. These cells are present in the same number in the striatum and are similar in size, morphology, and electrophysiological properties, but several functional proteins are found in the striatum nigra neurons and striatal pallids. It is known to be expressed specifically in each of the spherical neurons. Promoters of genes encoding these proteins can be used as promoters that are specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons and promoters that are specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons. .

  For example, promoters specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons include substance P promoters and dynorphin promoters, with substance P promoters being preferred. The promoter of substance P is the -1525 to +543 region (SEQ ID NO: 1) of the mouse preprotachykinin A gene; NCBI accession number NT_039340 is exemplified, but one to several bases may be used if it has activity as a promoter. May be substituted, deleted, added and / or inserted.

Examples of promoters that are specifically activated in striatal pallidum neurons include enkephalin promoters and _A2A adenosine receptor promoters, with enkephalin promoters being preferred. The enkephalin promoter is exemplified by the mouse preproenkephalin gene from -1834 to +148 region (SEQ ID NO: 2); NCBI accession number NT_039258. If the promoter has activity as a promoter, 1 to several bases are substituted. , Deletions, additions and / or insertions.

  The transgenic non-human animal of the present invention uses a gene encoding a stimulant-dependent transcription factor protein and a stimulant-responsive factor sequence to control a system that reversibly controls the expression of a specific gene by a specific stimulant. The specific gene that has been constructed and whose expression is controlled is a gene that encodes a substance that can control neurotransmission in the neural circuit.

  Examples of systems that reversibly control gene expression by specific stimuli include systems that control the presence or absence of antibiotics, such as tetracycline antibiotics, and methods that use promoters that are responsive to hormones (Lee, F., et al., (1981) Nature, 294, 228-232). As a system that controls the presence or absence of tetracycline antibiotics, specifically, a tetracycline expression regulation system (Gossen, M., and Bujard, H., (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 5547- 5551).

  The stimulant-dependent transcription factor protein may be a factor that induces the expression of a gene under the control of a stimulant-responsive factor sequence by administration or non-administration of a stimulant, a derivative thereof, or an analog. When using a system that controls the presence or absence of tetracycline antibiotics, it is preferable to use a tetracycline expression regulator as the stimulator-dependent transcription factor protein. The tetracycline expression regulator may be any factor that induces gene expression under the control of the tetracycline responsive element by administration or non-administration of tetracycline, a derivative or an analog thereof, and specifically, a tetracycline-dependent transcription factor. (tTA) (Tetoracycline-controlled transactivator: Gossen, M., and Bujard, H., (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 5547-5551), or rtTA (Reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator: Gossen , M., et al., (1995) Science, 268, 1766-1769).

  The stimulator response factor sequence may be any sequence as long as it can bind to a stimulus-dependent transcription factor protein and can express a downstream gene by this binding. The expression of the gene downstream of the stimulus substance response factor sequence is linked to the promoter controlled by the stimulus substance response factor sequence downstream of the stimulus substance response factor sequence, and the expression is controlled under the control of the promoter. Preferably the gene is placed. When using a system controlled by the presence or absence of tetracycline antibiotics, the stimulator response factor sequence is preferably a tetracycline response sequence, specifically a tetracycline operator (Gossen, M., and Bujard, H., ( 1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 5547-5551). The promoter controlled by the stimulator response factor sequence may be any promoter as long as it has no activity by itself and is controlled by the stimulus response factor sequence. Specifically, it is a CMV minimum. Examples include promoters and the like.

  The gene downstream of the stimulant substance response factor sequence is a gene encoding a protein having a nerve transmission inhibitory function, and reversibly suppresses the release of the neurotransmitter when introduced into the living body or removed from the living body. Anything that can be promoted may be used. For example, a neurotoxin, a factor that affects neurotoxin sensitivity, metabolism, localization, or the like can be used as a protein having a neurotransmission blocking function, and it is preferable to use a neurotoxin.

  Examples of neurotoxins include tetanus toxin (TN), Clostridium botulinum toxin (BoNT), and the like. Moreover, a marker and a tag sequence can be added to the N-terminal or C-terminal of the protein, if necessary, and can be inserted inside. For example, Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), β-galactosidase, luciferase, Flag tag, HA tag, His tag and the like can be used.

  In the present invention, a stimulating substance or a derivative or analog thereof is considered to act as a substance that reversibly controls a neural circuit. For example, when the system that reversibly controls gene expression with a specific stimulating substance is a tetracycline expression regulation system, tetracycline or tetracycline analog doxycycline can be used as the stimulating substance or derivative or analog thereof.

For example, neurotransmission in the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention using a system controlled by the presence or absence of a tetracycline antibiotic, a substance P promoter or enkephalin promoter, and a neurotoxin will be described.
In the striatum of the transgenic non-human animal, the substance P promoter or the enkephalin promoter expresses a downstream tetracycline expression regulator in the target nerve cell. A tetracycline expression regulator binds to a tetracycline responsive element and activates a downstream promoter to express a neurotoxin. Neurotoxins block the synaptic transmission by cleaving the synaptic vesicle opening secretion control protein VAMP2 in the direct or indirect route. In addition, when doxycycline (DOX), a tetracycline analog, is administered to the transgenic non-human animal, the tetracycline expression regulator loses its activity, the neurotoxin expression is lost, and the newly generated VAMP2 resumes synaptic transmission. Can do. In this way, the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention can reversibly inhibit neurotransmission.

  The method for producing a transgenic non-human animal of the present invention is not particularly limited, but a line of a transgenic non-human animal that already has a stimulator response factor sequence and a gene encoding a protein having a neurotransmission blocking function. It is preferable to introduce a gene expression cassette having a gene encoding a substance P promoter and / or an enkephalin promoter and a stimulant-dependent transcription factor protein into the striatum.

  Any non-human animal (hereinafter also referred to as “host non-human animal”) having a stimulant substance response factor sequence and a gene encoding a protein having a neurotransmission inhibitory function may be used. 2 or a transgenic non-human animal produced using the method described in Patent Document 1.

  In addition, a promoter that is specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons and / or a promoter that is specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons, and a stimulator-dependent transcription factor protein The site of the striatum into which the gene expression cassette having the gene to be encoded is introduced may be any site. For example, the gene expression cassette may be introduced into some, some combination, or all of the nucleus accumbens, outer dorsal striatum, and inner dorsal striatum, which are ventral striatum.

  Dependent on host non-human animals, promoters specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons and / or promoters specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons and stimulant dependence A means for introducing a gene expression cassette having a gene encoding a transcription factor protein is not particularly limited, but a virus infection method using a virus vector such as adeno-associated virus, lentivirus, adenovirus, retrovirus or the like capable of infecting nerve cells. And lipofection method, electroporation method, microinjection method, calcium phosphate method and the like.

  As a method for confirming whether or not the target gene expression cassette is introduced into the host non-human animal, a commonly used method known per se can be used. For example, it can be confirmed by performing Southern blotting, Northern blotting, Western blotting or the like using a DNA, RNA, or protein extract prepared from a tissue containing striatal neurons.

  In addition, when the host non-human animal has a marker gene under the control of a stimulator response factor sequence, the expression of the marker protein can be confirmed using Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, or the like. For example, the expression of a fusion protein of green fluorescent dye (GFP) and tetanus toxin in the target nerve cell can be confirmed by double immunohistochemistry using an antibody against GFP and an antibody against the target neuronal marker. Reversible expression control of GFP-tetanus toxin fusion protein can be confirmed by Western blotting using GFP antibody against striatal tissue administered or not administered tetracycline or its derivatives. The functional expression of tetanus toxin can be confirmed by Western blotting using an antibody against the N-terminus of VAMP2.

  Examples of the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention include mammals other than humans, and examples include cattle, monkeys, pigs, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, mice, and the like. In particular, it is preferable because rodents such as guinea pigs, rats and mice are easy to handle, and mice are particularly preferable.

  The transgenic non-human animals of the present invention are diseases related to the basal ganglia, such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, which are neurodegenerative diseases in which cells of the basal ganglia die, and neuropsychiatric diseases in which the basal ganglia are impaired. It can be used as a model animal for disease states such as drug dependence, schizophrenia, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and tics. In addition, by mating the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention with other genetically-analyzed animals or non-human animals exhibiting a characteristic phenotype, a disease state model of a disease involving a plurality of genes can be prepared. .

(A method for analyzing neurotransmission in the neural circuit of the brain, especially in the basal ganglia)
By utilizing the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention, the expression of a protein having a nerve transmission inhibitory function is reversibly controlled, and the nerve transmission of a specific neural circuit in the basal ganglia is reversibly changed. It is possible to analyze the neurotransmission index of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia, and to clarify the role of neurotransmission of the cerebral neural circuit, particularly a specific neural circuit of the basal ganglia.

  The neurotransmission index of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia means the phenotype of a neuron, a neural circuit, or an individual, and the analysis method can be performed by appropriately combining commonly used known methods. . Specifically, morphological observation with a microscope, behavior analysis such as rotational behavior and conditioned place preference test, electrophysiological analysis method to observe intracellular and extracellular electrical activity, Northern blotting, Western blotting, RT-PCR for biofunctional molecules Indices can be analyzed by molecular biological analysis using in situ hybridization, DNA chip, chromatography, or the like. Here, the “biofunctional molecule” means a substance that exerts a function in the living body, such as a nucleic acid, a protein, a lipid, and a sugar. In addition to the striatum, it is possible to analyze the effects of neurotransmission in each neural circuit in the substantia nigra, the ventral tegmental area, thalamus, cerebral cortex, etc., where the direct and indirect paths are integrated .

  More specifically, when the neurotransmission index of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia is an index related to drug dependence or reward learning, the index can be observed by a conditioned place preference test. Further, when the neurotransmission index of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia is an index related to repellent learning, such an index can be observed by an inhibitory avoidance test.

  In addition, a promoter that is specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons and / or a promoter that is specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons, and a stimulator-dependent transcription factor protein By using a transgenic non-human animal in which a striatum site into which a gene expression cassette having a gene to be encoded is introduced is used, the role of each striatum site can be analyzed.

  For example, use a transgenic non-human animal in which the gene expression cassette is introduced into some, some or all of the nucleus accumbens, ventral striatum, outer dorsal striatum, and inner dorsal striatum. Thus, the analysis can be limited to the neural circuit of each part. Moreover, the difference in the phenotype of the left and right striatum within the same individual can be analyzed by using an animal in which the gene expression cassette is introduced into only one of the left and right striatum. As a result, it is possible to analyze without individual differences. In particular, it is useful for analyzes using in situ hybridization histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, rotational behavior measurement, and the like.

  For example, it is possible to identify the basal ganglia neural circuit involved in the target behavior by observing the behavior of the individual using a non-human animal that reversibly blocks the direct path and / or the indirect path. It is. That is, for example, when evasive learning is observed, non-human animals that reversibly block the indirect route are impaired, but non-human animals that reversibly block the indirect route are not disturbed. It turns out to be essential. In addition, when conducting analysis using non-human animals that reversibly block the direct path, the effect on the indirect path can be confirmed, and the control mechanism and molecular mechanism in the indirect path for avoidance learning should be analyzed. Is possible. When the analysis is performed using a non-human animal that reversibly blocks both the indirect path and the direct path, it becomes possible to analyze the control mechanism of the neural circuit other than the indirect path and the direct path.

  The analysis method of the present invention preferably includes a step of administering a drug to the transgenic non-human animal. When a drug is administered, analysis of the pharmacological activity of the drug or analysis of drug-dependent disease states can be performed. The drug may be administered once or multiple times, and the route of administration is injection (intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, subcutaneous injection, intraarterial injection, intravertebral injection, intraarticular injection) , Intraparenchymal injection, intraventricular injection), inhalation, rectal, sublingual / intramucosal, external, parenteral administration such as percutaneous absorption, or oral administration, and the like.

  The drug may have a known function or may be unknown. Drugs with known function may be addictive drugs. Examples of drugs with known functions include psychostimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine, neurotransmitter receptor agonists / antagonists such as apomorphine, haloperidol, and MK-801, and intracellular signal transmitters such as lithium and FK-506. Inhibitors are exemplified.

  When the analysis method of the present invention includes the step of administering an addictive drug to the transgenic non-human animal, acute behavioral activation reaction in a single administration, behavioral sensitization reaction in multiple administrations, conditioned place preference In addition, analysis can be performed using drug self-administration as an index.

(Search method for substances that can affect neurotransmission in the neural circuit of the brain, especially in the basal ganglia)
In the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention, neurotransmission in the direct and / or indirect pathways of the basal ganglia is blocked, so that the neural circuit of the brain, particularly these nerves, can be used. It becomes possible to search for substances that can affect neurotransmission in the circuit. The method for searching for a substance capable of affecting the neurotransmission of the neural circuit of the brain, particularly the neural circuit of the basal ganglia, preferably includes the following steps.
(A) administering a test substance to the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention; and
(B) comparing the neurotransmission index of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia between when the test substance is administered and when not administered, and the test substance in which the change occurs in the neuronal circuit of the brain, particularly The process of selecting as a substance that can affect the neurotransmission of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia.

  The test substance may be either known or novel, and there is no particular limitation on the structure, origin, physical properties, etc., and any of natural compounds, synthetic compounds, high molecular compounds, low molecular compounds, peptides, and nucleic acid analogs may be used. But you can. Candidate compounds include, for example, another specific gene, an antisense of a specific gene, an RNA interference body, an antibody, a drug, and the like.

  By using the transgenic non-human animal of the present invention, a disease state model animal of a disease related to the basal ganglia can be prepared. In the search method of the present invention, the neural circuit of the brain, particularly the basal ganglia. Substances that can affect neurotransmission in the neural circuit can be selected.

  For example, when searching using a non-human animal that reversibly blocks an indirect route, the effects of the test substance on the direct route can be confirmed, and behaviors involving a direct route such as drug dependence and reward learning And substances that affect the pathology can be selected. Conversely, when conducting analysis using non-human animals that block the direct path reversibly, the effects of the test substance on the indirect path can be confirmed, and behaviors and pathologies involving indirect paths such as avoidance learning. Substances that affect the process can be selected. When the analysis is performed using a non-human animal that reversibly blocks both the indirect path and the direct path, a substance that affects a neural circuit other than the indirect path and the direct path can be selected. In addition, when observing behaviors that require the right and left striatum, such as repellent learning, for non-human animals that reversibly block the direct path and / or indirect path of one of the left and right striatum. By administering a test substance to the other striatum, it is possible to select a substance that affects the behavior and pathological condition.

  Substances that can affect neurotransmission in the neural circuits of the brain, especially those of the basal ganglia, are Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, which is a neurodegenerative disease that kills cells of the basal ganglia, and the psychiatric disorder that damages the basal ganglia It can be a candidate for a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for drug diseases such as drug dependence, schizophrenia, depression, obsessive compulsive neurosis, and tic, which are neurological diseases.

  Further, in step (a) of the search method of the present invention, a test substance may be administered after administering a dependent drug to the transgenic non-human animal. An addictive drug refers to a substance that changes its mood when ingested and brings about dependence, and means a substance that causes drug dependence. Examples of addictive drugs include cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, nicotine, morphine, heroin, phencyclidine, MDMA, and the like.

  When an addictive drug is administered, it becomes possible to search for candidate substances for therapeutic or preventive drugs mainly for drug dependence and schizophrenia.

  The drug or test substance may be administered once or multiple times, and the administration route is injection (intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, subcutaneous injection, intraarterial injection, intravertebral injection, joint injection) (Intraluminal injection, intracerebral injection, intraventricular injection), inhalation, rectal, sublingual / intramucosal, external, parenteral administration such as percutaneous absorption, or oral administration, and the like.

  In order to deepen the understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples. However, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 Production of Transgenic Mice Transgenic mice capable of reversibly and selectively expressing tetanus toxin in striatal nigra neurons or striatal pallidal neurons were produced.
FIG. 1A shows a scheme of the transgenic mouse produced. In the direct and indirect striatal neurons (striatal nigra neurons and striatal pallidum neurons, respectively), substance P (hereinafter also referred to as “SP”) and enkephalin (hereinafter referred to as “SP”) “Enk”) is expressed (FIG. 2). Therefore, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) having a recombinant gene in which a tetracycline-dependent transcription factor tTA was inserted downstream of the SP or Enk promoter was prepared (upper part of FIG. 1A).

Specifically, the SP promoter region (mouse preprotachykinin A gene -1525 to +543 region (SEQ ID NO: 1); NCBI accession number NT_039340) or Enk promoter region (mouse preproenkephalin gene -1834 to +148 region (sequence) NCBI accession number NT_039258) was obtained by PCR from BAC clone DNA (RP24-166O20 or RP24-318J23, BACPAC resources, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute). A tTA gene sequence having a kozac sequence and a flag tag sequence added to the N-terminus was inserted into the C-terminus of these promoters. These are hereinafter referred to as “S-tTA gene expression cassette” or “E-tTA gene expression cassette”. The S-tTA gene expression cassette or E-tTA gene expression cassette was inserted into the multi cloning sequence of the pAAV-MCS vector included in Stratagene's AAV Helper-Free System to complete the adeno-associated virus (AAV) construct (Fig. On 1A: These are hereinafter referred to as “VS-tTA” or “VE-tTA”). AAV was made according to the manual using AAV Helper-Free System. The produced virus was concentrated and purified using the ViraTrap AAV Purification kit from Omega-Tek. The virus concentration was measured using PROGEN's AAV2 Titration ELISA and adjusted to 10 ¹² particles per ml.

  Purified AAV was injected into the striatum or nucleus accumbens of a TN transgenic mouse (bottom of FIG. 1A). The TN transgenic mouse is a transgenic mouse having a CMV promoter and a fusion gene of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and tetanus toxin light chain (TN) as a transgene downstream of a tetracycline responsive element (Non-patent Document 2). ). The injected AAV infects neurons and is thought to express tTA according to the promoter activity of SP or Enk. That is, when V-S-tTA is administered, tTA is selectively expressed in direct tract neurons, and when V-E-tTA is administered, tTA is selectively expressed in indirect tract neurons. tTA acts on the tetracycline responsive element and expresses a GFP-TN fusion protein. Tetanus toxin cleaves VAMP2, a protein associated with synaptic vesicles, and blocks neurotransmission via the synaptic vesicles. When tetracycline or its analog doxycycline (DOX) was given to this mouse, tTA became inactive, GFP-TN expression disappeared, and GFP-TN was degraded via the PEST sequence, and eventually became new. VAMP2 resumes neurotransmission. Administration of DOX was performed by feeding mice with diet containing 6 mg / g DOX and water containing 2 mg / ml DOX and 10% sucrose.

  Confirmation of reversible expression of GFP-TN in the striatum tissue was performed by Western blotting for GFP antibody (FIG. 1B). V-S-tTA or V-E-tTA was injected into the striatum of TN transgenic mice, and the striatum tissue was removed from the brain two weeks later. Sample processing of the striatum tissue and Western blotting were performed by the method described in Non-Patent Document 2. In the absence of DOX, expression of GFP-TN was confirmed until 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks after AAV injection. When DOX was continuously administered, the expression of GFP-TN completely disappeared 4 weeks after the administration of DOX.

  Confirmation of the functional expression of GFP-TN was performed by Western blotting for an antibody against the N-terminus of VAMP2 (FIG. 1C). In the absence of DOX, a band of 12-kDa VAMP2 fragment was confirmed in addition to the 18-kDa full-length VAMP2 band at 2 weeks and 6 weeks after AAV injection. In the striatum, there is a 1: 1 ratio of neurons in the direct and indirect tracts. When converted from the concentration ratio of the two bands, VAMP2 is cleaved in more than 70% of the target cells. . On the other hand, when DOX was administered for 4 weeks, the 12-kDa VAMP2 fragment disappeared. No cleavage of VAMP2 was observed when AAV was administered to sibling wild-type mice. These results indicate that DOX-dependent reversible TN expression control is possible.

(Example 2) Histological experiment of brain using transgenic mice TN transgenic mice administered with VS-tTA or VE-tTA to the striatum were subjected to histological experiments. . Coronal sections were prepared from frozen brain tissue according to the method described in Kaneko, S., et al., (2000) Science, 289, 633-637, and Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization tissue Performed chemistry.

In Nissl staining (FIG. 3A) and immunohistochemistry using an antibody against the dopamine transporter (FIG. 3B), no histological changes were observed between the side of ATN administration and the non-administration side in TN transgenic mice. . In addition, hybridization to a ³⁵ S-labeled RNA probe prepared from the full-length cDNAs of SP and Enk was performed on the striatum of TN transgenic mice and sibling wild-type mice administered with AAV, and the signal concentration was measured using BAS5000 imaging. When confirmed by the system (Fujifilm), there was no difference between the signal density and the tissue image (FIG. 3C).

In order to confirm that GFP-TN is specifically expressed in the target neurons, double immunohistochemistry was performed using GFP antibodies and antibodies against each neuron-specific peptide or protein ( 4 and 5).
In the striatum of TN transgenic mice treated with VS-tTA, GFP-TN expression was observed in the striatal nigra neurons that were SP precursor PPTA positive, but the Enk precursor PPE was positive. It was not seen in certain striatal pallidal neurons (FIG. 4A). In the striatum of TN transgenic mice administered with VE-tTA, GFP co-localization was observed only in striatal pallidum neurons (FIG. 4B).
5A and 5B, it is shown that GFP antigenicity was not observed in interneurons positive for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or parvalbumin. Large cells are interneurons, and the left panel is when ChAT antibody is used. ChAT antibody stains acetylcholine-producing cells, while GFP antibody stains only the desired medium spiny cells. The left panel is not stained with GFP antibody. That is, TN is not expressed in acetylcholine producing cells (interneurons). On the other hand, parvalbumin antibody stains parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons in the right panel, but GFP antibody does not stain and does not express TN.
Therefore, tetanus toxin is selective for striatal nigra neurons or striatal pallidal neurons, depending on the infection of VS-tTA or VE-tTA TN transgenic mice, respectively. It was found that

(Example 3) Confirmation of direct path-specific nerve transmission blockade by electrophysiological experiments in the substantia nigra-like part. Of the animal (wild-type mouse (wt), TN transgenic mouse injected with VS-tTA or VE-tTA in the striatum) in the substantia nigra-like part.
In the substantia nigra of wild type mice, striatal stimulation caused a fast monophasic response (FIG. 6A). This reaction was inhibited by refluxing the GABA receptor antagonist bicuculline (bicuculline methochloride) (5 mM) to the substantia nigra. It was confirmed that it was a transmission. This electrophysiological response to striatum stimulation was not observed in TN transgenic mice injected with VS-tTA, but was confirmed in TN transgenic mice injected with VE-tTA in the same manner as wild-type mice (FIG. 6A). , B). These results indicate that TN-transgenic mice injected with VS-tTA are selectively blocked from direct tract neurotransmission.

(Example 4) Reversible Appearance of Abnormal Rotation Behavior by Blocking Nerve Transmission in Direct Path or Indirect Pathway of Unilateral Striatum Anomalies in the output of the unilateral basal ganglia can be detected with high sensitivity by rotation behavior. Observation of rotational behavior was according to the method described in Kaneko et al., (2000) Science, 289, 633-637. VS-tTA or VE-tTA was injected into the left striatum, and rotational behavior was observed after 2, 4 and 6 weeks.

  In the absence of DOX, TN transgenic mice administered with V-S-tTA throughout the left striatum showed abnormal rotational behavior in the administration direction (FIG. 7A). In contrast, TN transgenic mice administered with V-E-tTA to the left striatum showed abnormal rotation behavior in the opposite direction to the administration side (FIG. 7B). From the observation results of these abnormal rotation behaviors, it can be seen that the direct and indirect paths of the basal ganglia neural circuit control the behavioral balance in opposite directions. These abnormal rotational behaviors remained on day 14 but disappeared on day 28 when DOX was administered (FIGS. 7A and B). This time series was consistent with the time series of GFP-TN expression (FIG. 1C). Even when AAV was administered to the left striatum of sibling wild-type mice, it did not show abnormal rotational behavior (FIGS. 7A and 7B). From these experiments, we found that V-S-tTA or V-E-tTA can selectively and reversibly block neurotransmission directly or indirectly in the basal ganglia.

(Example 5) The role of neurotransmission in the direct and indirect pathways in the acute response elicited by psychostimulants Psychostimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine stimulate the dopamine system in the basal ganglia and are acute, such as increased translocation behavior Activate the reaction.

(1) Mice that reversibly block nerve transmission in the direct or indirect path by injecting VS-tTA or VE-tTA throughout the left and right striatum (hereinafter referred to as “D-RNB” or “I-RNB”) The effect of methamphetamine on acute behavioral activation was examined (FIGS. 8A and 8B).

The amount of translocation behavior for 60 minutes immediately after intraperitoneal administration of 2 mg / kg methamphetamine or physiological saline was measured using an infrared monitor (MED Associates).
In wild-type mice, high mobilization behavior was induced by methamphetamine regardless of AAV infection or DOX administration. Similarly, increased translocation behavior was induced by methamphetamine in TN transgenic mice before AAV injection. However, after AAV administration, the increase in translocation behavior was completely suppressed in both D-RNB and I-RNB. When DOX was administered for 4 weeks, the increase in the amount of behaviour due to methamphetamine recurred in D-RNB and I-RNB.

(2) Next, AAV administration was injected only in the nucleus accumbens, which was the ventral part of the striatum, and the effect of cocaine on the activation of acute behavior was examined (FIGS. 8C and 8D). The amount of moving behavior for 10 minutes was measured immediately after intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg / kg cocaine or physiological saline.
Wild-type mice showed increased locomotor activity due to cocaine, whereas neither D-RNB nor I-RNB showed an increase in translocation behavior immediately after cocaine administration. From these results, it was shown that both the direct and indirect nerve transmissions are essential in the acute activation reaction by psychostimulants.

(3) The effect of nerve block in the direct or indirect route on the activity of the basal ganglia neural circuit after cocaine administration was measured. Brain tissue was extracted from D-RNB, I-RNB, and wild-type mice that received 10 mg / kg cocaine intraperitoneally, and described in Kaneko, S., et al., (2000) Science, 289, 633-637 In situ hybridization histochemistry was performed on coronal brain sections using an RNA probe for the full length c-fos cDNA labeled with ³⁵ S.
In the pallidal sphere, which is the relay nucleus of the indirect route, the number of c-fos mRNA positive cells was increased by cocaine in wild-type and D-RNB mice, but in the pneumosphere of I-RNB mice, c-fos mRNA No change in the number of positive cells was observed (FIG. 8E). On the other hand, in the substantia nigra-like area / ventral tegmental area where both direct and indirect inputs are integrated, wild-type mice showed a decrease in c-fos mRNA positive cells, whereas D In -RNB and I-RNB, no change in the number of c-fos mRNA positive cells was observed (FIG. 8F).

(Example 6) Different effects of direct and indirect neurotransmission to the adaptive response to cocaine (1) Repeated administration of cocaine induces long-term changes in the dopamine system, resulting in an increase in behavioral quantity in which the amount of behavior of translocation increases gradually Causes a sensation phenomenon. The influence on nerve blockage of the direct route or the indirect route to behavioral sensitization to cocaine repeated administration was examined (FIGS. 9A and 9B).

(I) In the same manner as in Example 5, D-RNB or I-RNB mice were placed in a behavior measurement chamber for 10 minutes after administration of physiological saline intraperitoneally, and were habituated. From the next day for 5 days (Day 1 to Day 5), the amount of moving behavior was measured for 10 minutes immediately after intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg / kg cocaine.
Although I-RNB caused a delay in behavioral sensitization by repeated administration of cocaine, it reached a high amount of translocation behavior equivalent to that of sibling wild-type mice from day 3 to 5 (FIG. 9B). On the other hand, D-RNB significantly suppressed not only the initial displacement behavior amount suppression but also the behavior amount sensitization by repeated administration of cocaine (FIG. 9A).

(Ii) The adaptive response due to chronic administration of cocaine remains even after cocaine administration is discontinued. In order to examine this long-lasting adaptive response, after 5 days of cocaine administration, DOX was continuously given from day 6 to day 33 without administration of cocaine to resume neurotransmission (FIGS. 9A and B). .
When cocaine was administered on the 33rd day, both D-RNB and I-RNB showed a high amount of translocation behavior to the same level as wild-type mice. This indicates that the adaptation mechanism by daily administration of cocaine remains effective even when neurotransmission is inhibited.

(2) The influence of the two pathways on adaptive behavior was analyzed using a conditioned place preference test, which is associative learning via the nucleus accumbens. The conditioned place preference test followed the method described in Hikida, T., et al., (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 13351-13354. Wild-type, D-RNB, I-RNB mice were conditioned by repeated cocaine administration in one of two visually distinct tactile chambers (FIGS. 9C, D). Before conditioning, I stayed in the two chambers without palatability.
After conditioning with 10 mg / kg cocaine for 3 days, D-RNB significantly reduced the conditioned place preference with cocaine (FIG. 9C). In contrast, I-RNB showed a conditioned place preference similar to that of wild-type mice (FIG. 9D).

  It was shown that the nerve transmission of the direct path plays a dominant role in the sensitization adaptation behavior by cocaine from both the sensitization and the conditioned place preference.

(Example 7) Role of nerve transmission of direct and indirect routes in reward-based learning and avoidance learning The effect of nerve transmission of direct and indirect routes on reward learning based on innate desire It investigated using (FIG. 10A, B).

(1) Conditioned with normal food in one chamber and chocolate preferred by mice in other chambers.
After 3 days conditioning, wild type and I-RNB mice stayed longer in the room conditioned with chocolate without statistical difference (FIG. 10B). In contrast, the learning ability of D-RNB was remarkably lost (FIG. 10A). It was found that neuropathy in the direct tract is essential in the adaptive mechanism found in reward learning based on natural desires.

(2) Next, the influence of nerve transmission blockage in repellent learning was examined using an inhibitory avoidance test by one trial (FIGS. 10C and 10D). In the suppression avoidance test, a device in which a narrow light room and a wide dark room were connected was used. Before conditioning, when the mouse is placed in a bright small room, it moves quickly to the dark room, which is the preferred environment for the mouse. When the mouse put all four legs in the dark room, the door separating the two rooms was closed, and an electric shock was applied by applying a current of 0.5 mA, 60 Hz, 1 sec to the floor. In order to measure retention of repellent learning after 24 hours, the same procedure was performed without electric shock, and the time until entering the darkroom was measured.
Wild-type mice extended the entry time to the dark room that received the electric shock. This repellent learning was also maintained in D-RNB mice (FIG. 10C). In contrast, I-RNB did not retain repellent learning, and entered the dark room without significant difference before and after the electric shock (FIG. 10D). Therefore, it was found that nerve transmission in the indirect route is essential for avoidance learning.

(3) In order to exclude the possibility that the disorder of repelling learning is due to the disorder of fear behavior, the freezing reaction immediately after the electric shock is expressed by Masugi, M., et al., (1999) J. Neurosci., 19, 955- Measurements were made according to the method described in 963 (FIG. 10E).
When 3 electric shocks were given at 1-minute intervals, wild type, D-RNB, and I-RNB mice did not differ significantly in any degree or pattern. Increased percentage. Therefore, it was found that the disorder of I-RNB seen in FIG. 10D was not due to the difference in fear behavior but due to the disorder of avoidance learning.

(4) Repeated administration of cocaine has been reported to cause long-term suppression of input to striatal neurons via D2 dopamine receptors (Goto, Y. and Grace, AA, (2005) Neuron, 47 , 255-266). Therefore, 10 mg / kg cocaine was administered to wild-type mice for 5 days, and after a 3-day withdrawal, an inhibitory avoidance test by one trial was conducted in the same manner as in the method of this Example (2) (FIG. 10F). ).
Mice that were repeatedly administered cocaine clearly had impaired repellent learning compared to control mice that received saline. This is consistent with the results of FIG. 10D, indicating that repeated administration of cocaine alters the adaptive mechanism of indirect neurotransmission involved in repellent learning. Thus, it was suggested that neurotransmission in the direct path plays a different role in learning based on reward, and that in the indirect path plays a different role in repellent learning.

  The transgenic non-human animal of the present invention can selectively and reversibly block neurotransmission for a long time without inducing irreversible cell death in the direct and / or indirect route of the basal ganglia. It becomes possible to approach the control mechanism of the neural network. In the analysis method of the present invention, it is possible to analyze the pathological condition related to the neural circuit of the basal ganglia and the mechanism of nerve transmission in the neural circuit. It can be directly linked to drug discovery for prevention and is extremely useful. According to the present invention, it is possible to distinguish and analyze the function of the direct path and the indirect path, in the functional abnormality of the basal ganglia neural circuit such as the brain function expression and drug dependence formation by the basal ganglia neural circuit such as reward system and avoidance learning It was revealed that neurotransmission in the direct and indirect pathways has a different role. According to the search method of the present invention using this point, it is possible to easily and effectively screen candidate compounds for treating or preventing dysfunction of the basal ganglia neural circuit. Can contribute to treatment or prevention.

SP Substance P
Enk Enkephalin
tTA tetracycline-dependent transcription factor
TN tetanus toxin
AAV adeno-associated virus
DOX Doxycycline
TRE tetracycline responsive element
GFP green fluorescent protein
CMV CMV promoter
wt wild type mouse
E striatal pallidal neuron
S striatal nigra neurons
SNc / VTA Black matter dense part / ventral tegmental area
SNr / VTA

Claims (14)

A method for searching for a substance that can affect neurotransmission in the cranial nerve circuit, including the following steps:
(A) administering a test substance to a transgenic non-human animal that blocks a direct path and / or an indirect path in the neural circuit of the basal ganglia, and
(B) comparing the neurotransmission index of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia between when the test substance is administered and when not administered, and the test substance in which the change occurs in the neuronal circuit of the brain neural circuit Selecting as a substance that can be affected. The transgenic non-human animal has a stimulating substance response factor sequence and a gene encoding a protein having a function of inhibiting neurotransmission, and is specifically activated in the striatum nigra neurons And / or a transgenic non-human animal having a promoter specifically activated in striatal pallidum neurons and a gene encoding a stimulator-dependent transcription factor protein. The search method as described in. The search method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the neurotransmission index of the neural circuit of the basal ganglia is behavior. The search method according to claim 1, which is any of the following:
(I) A substance that can affect neurotransmission in the cranial nerve circuit is a substance that can affect neurotransmission in the direct tract, and the neurotransmission index of the neuronal circuit in the basal ganglia is related to drug dependence and reward learning Or (ii) a substance that can affect neurotransmission in the cranial nerve circuit is a substance that can affect neurotransmission in the indirect path, and the neurotransmission index in the neural circuit of the basal ganglia is related to avoidance learning It is an indicator. The search method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the step (a), a test substance is administered after the dependence drug is administered to the transgenic non-human animal. The search method of any one of Claims 1-5 including the process of administering the substance which cancels | releases blockade of a neural circuit to the said transgenic non-human animal. The search method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the substance capable of affecting neurotransmission of the cranial nerve circuit is a substance capable of treating or preventing a neuropsychiatric disorder. A method for analyzing neurotransmission of a cerebral nerve circuit using a transgenic non-human animal that blocks a direct path and / or an indirect path among neural circuits of the basal ganglia. The analysis method according to claim 8, comprising a step of administering a drug to the transgenic non-human animal. The analysis method according to claim 8 or 9, comprising a step of administering to the transgenic non-human animal a substance that releases a block of a neural circuit. The analysis method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the drug is an addictive drug, and is performed for analyzing a disease state of drug dependence. A promoter that is specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons and / or a promoter that is specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons, and encodes a stimulator-dependent transcription factor protein downstream thereof A viral vector having a gene to be Among the neural circuits of the basal ganglia, a transgenic non-human animal that blocks a direct path and / or an indirect path has a stimulator response factor sequence and a gene encoding a protein having a function of preventing neurotransmission, A promoter that is specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons and / or a promoter that is specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons, and a gene encoding a stimulator-dependent transcription factor protein A transgenic non-human animal having a striatum. The promoter specifically activated in striatal nigra neurons is a substance P promoter, and the promoter specifically activated in striatal pallidal neurons is an enkephalin promoter. 14. The transgenic non-human animal according to 13.