Behavioural phenotyping of dopamine transporter knockdown mice using local small interference RNA

The objective of this study was to evaluate basic behavioural phenotypes and methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity in dopamine transporter (DAT) knockdown and control mice after local injections of small interference RNA into ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra once every other day for 14 days. Local knockdown of DAT expression in the mouse brain did not affect basic behavioural functions, but these mice displayed elevated depression-like immobility and a ∼35% reduction of methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity.