Roland Bock

Early life adversity increases striatal dopamine D1 receptor density and promotes social alcohol drinking in mice, especially males

This study shows early life adversity increases striatal dopamine D1 receptor density and promotes social alcohol drinking in mice, especially males, with receptor downregulation after alcohol exposure negating these differences.

D2 autoreceptors gate vulnerability to cocaine use disorder

This study investigates how D2 autoreceptors influence vulnerability to cocaine use disorder by using cell-type-specific genetic manipulations in mice.

Brain insulin signaling restores deficits in striatal dopamine release in overweight male mice with preexisting low D2-receptor expression

This study shows that low striatal D2 receptor density in male mice predisposes to obesity-like traits through early dopaminergic dysfunction, which is later compensated by brain insulin hypersensitivity.