Context-Dependent Activation of the A11 in Freely Moving Mice

Abstract

The heterogeneous A11 nucleus is the primary direct source of spinal dopamine in rodents. Previous work has implicated this region in nociception, locomotion, and sociosexual behaviours in various animal models. The A11’s activity patterns in freely moving animal models have not been researched. I examined the A11 region’s activity through fibre photometry in mice during various behavioural contexts to elucidate this region’s roles. I found that the A11 regional activity was most excited by novel stimuli. Goal-directed locomotion was associated with increased A11 activity, while locomotion in the open field was on par with baseline fluorescence levels. During states of lower anxiety in the open arms of the elevated plus maze, I also observed increased A11 activity. The A11’s activity was also increased during periods of ultrasonic vocalization. Overall, I suggest that the A11 responds to novelty by promoting goal-directed locomotion and also encodes sociosexual vocalizations. Additionally, I validated an intersectional viral approach to target spinally-projecting A11 cells in a circuit-dependent manner.