Regulation of Akt-GSK-3 signalling by the D5R in rodent PFC. (a) Representative blots depicting the effects of SKF 83959 on proteins associated with Akt-GSK-3 signalling in rat PFC 90 minutes post injection (n=8–9 rats/group). GAPDH was used as a loading control. (b) SKF 83959 (1.5 mg/kg) increased expression of Akt and phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 with no effect on pAkt Thr308. (c) Phosphorylation levels of GSK-3α and GSK-3β were elevated following SKF 83959. (d) Expression of iNOS, a downstream target of GSK-3β, was also increased by SKF 83959. (e) Enhanced Akt expression in D1R−/− mice, but not D5R−/− mice, following SKF 83959 (3 mg/kg) administration. Phosphorylation of Akt at Ser 473 was also significantly higher in D1R−/− mice than in D5R −/− mice. iNOS levels were elevated in response to SKF 83959 in both gene-deleted strains. (f) Phosphorylation of GSK-3β was elevated in wiltype mice but not in D1R−/− or D5R−/− mice following SKF 83959 (n=6–7 mice/group). Representative blots are also shown. Bars shown represent means ± s.e.m. and are expressed as a percentage of saline-treated controls. *P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001 compared to saline-treated controls, #
P<0.05 compared to D1R−/− mice.