Fig. 7: D2R serves as a dual therapeutic target presynaptically and postsynaptically for reversing schizophrenia-related social deficits.

a Schematic of bilateral cannula application of the D2R antagonist haloperidol (Halo, 50 μM) into the mPFC of juvenile Syt11 P0-cKO or control mice (TH-Cre-EGFP or TH-EGFP AAV injected into the VTA of neonatal Syt11 flox/flox mice) and the experimental procedure. b, c Statistics of the three-chamber social interaction test in Syt11 P0-cKO and control mice following local application of Halo vs saline in the mPFC. d, e Statistics of the social novelty test in Halo- vs saline-treated Syt11 P0-cKO and control mice. f Statistics of investigation time in Halo- vs saline-treated Syt11 P0-cKO and control mice in the home-cage social test. g Schematic of bilateral cannula application of the D2R agonist qunipirole (Qp, 1 μg/μl) into the VTA of juvenile Syt11 P0-cKO and control mice and the experimental procedure. h, i Statistics of the three-chamber social interaction test in Syt11 P0-cKO and control mice following local application of Qp vs saline in the VTA. j, k Statistics of the social novelty test in Qp- vs saline-treated Syt11 P0-cKO and control mice. l Statistics of investigation time in Qp- vs saline-treated Syt11 P0-cKO and control mice in the home-cage social test. Data are shown as box-and-whisker plots, with the median represented by the central line inside each box, the 25th and 75th percentiles represented by the edges of the box, and the whiskers extending to the most extreme data points. Ordinary two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s post-hoc test, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, n.s. no significant difference. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.