Conditional Deletion of the AMPA-GluA1 and NMDA-GluN1 Receptor Subunit Genes in Midbrain D1 Neurons does not Alter Cocaine Reward in Mice

Synaptic plasticity in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system contributes to the neural adaptations underlying addictive behaviors and relapse. However, the specific behavioral relevance of glutamatergic excitatory drive onto dopamine D1 receptor (D1R)-expressing neurons in mediating the reinforcing effect of cocaine remains unclear. Here, we investigated how midbrain AMPAR and NMDAR function modulate cocaine reward-related behavior using mutant mouse lines lacking the glutamate receptor …