Development of methodology for cell-type-specific nanoscale molecular imaging in brain circuits

Our latest paper in Nature Communications presents the PharmacoSTORM method developed in our laboratory.

The method is based on the use of fluorescently labelled small molecules (so-called pharmacopropes) and STORM super-resolution microscopy to enable nanoscale pharmacological measurements in a cell-type and subcellular compartment-specific manner.

Using the PharmacoSTORM method, we first investigated the new antipsychotic and antidepressant drug cariprazine, whose mechanism of action is not well understood. We showed that the main binding sites of cariprazine are D3 dopamine receptors on axons of granule cells located in the Islands of Calleja forebrain region. Our results highlight the physiological role and neuropsychiatric significance of the Islands of Calleja.

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