The nicotinic α4β2 receptor selective agonist, TC-2559, increases dopamine neuronal activity in the ventral tegmental area of rat midbrain slices

2003 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Chen ◽  
Thomas J.W. Sharples ◽  
Keith G. Phillips ◽  
Giovanni Benedetti ◽  
Lisa M. Broad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Selective Agonist ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

scholarly journals Distracting stimuli evoke ventral tegmental area responses in rats during ongoing saccharin consumption

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Z Peters ◽  
Andrew M J Young ◽  
James E McCutcheon
Keyword(s):  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Internal States ◽  
Licking Behaviour ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Ventral Tegmental ◽  
Adaptive Behaviours ◽  
External Stimuli

AbstractDisruptions in attention, salience and increased distractibility are implicated in multiple psychiatric conditions. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a potential site for converging information about external stimuli and internal states to be integrated and guide adaptive behaviours. Given the dual role of dopamine signals in both driving ongoing behaviours (e.g. feeding) and monitoring salient environmental stimuli, understanding the interaction between these functions is crucial. Here we investigate VTA neuronal activity during distraction from ongoing feeding. We developed a task to assess distraction exploiting self-paced licking in rats. Rats trained to lick for saccharin were given a distraction test, in which three consecutive licks within 1 second triggered a random distractor (e.g. light and tone stimulus). On each trial they were quantified as distracted or not based on the length of their pauses in licking behaviour. We expressed GCaMP6s in VTA neurons and used fibre photometry to record calcium fluctuations during this task as a proxy for neuronal activity. Distractor stimuli caused rats to interrupt their consumption of saccharin, a behavioural effect which quickly habituated with repeat testing. VTA neural activity showed consistent increases to distractor presentations and, furthermore, these responses were greater on distracted trials compared to non-distracted trials. Interestingly, neural responses show a slower habituation than behaviour with consistent VTA responses seen to distractors even after they are no longer distracting. These data highlight the complex role of the VTA in maintaining ongoing appetitive and consummatory behaviours while also monitoring the environment for salient stimuli.

Neuronal activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) during motivated bar press feeding in the monkey

1987 ◽  
Vol 413 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitoo Nishino ◽  
Taketoshi Ono ◽  
Kenichiro Muramoto ◽  
Masaji Fukuda ◽  
Kazuo Sasaki
Keyword(s):  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

scholarly journals Comparison of the VTA and LC response to methylphenidate: a concomitant behavioral and neuronal study of adolescent male rats

2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 1501-1514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahseen J. Karim ◽  
Cruz Reyes-Vazquez ◽  
Nachum Dafny
Keyword(s):  
Locus Coeruleus ◽  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Behavioral Sensitization ◽  
Neuronal Response ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Adolescent Male ◽  
Adolescent Rats ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

Methylphenidate (MPD), also known as Ritalin, is a psychostimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, it is increasingly being misused by normal adolescents for recreation and academic advantage. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the behavioral and neurophysiological effects of MPD in normal subjects. MPD inhibits the reuptake of catecholamines, mainly found in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC). The VTA and LC normally mediate attention, motivation, and drug reward behaviors. Selective neuronal connections between the VTA and LC have been identified implicating regular interaction between the structures. The objective of this study was to compare the neuronal responses of the VTA and LC to MPD in normal adolescent rats. Animals were implanted with permanent electrodes in the VTA and LC, and neuronal units were recorded following acute and repetitive (chronic) saline or 0.6, 2.5, or 10.0 mg/kg MPD exposure. Animals displayed either behavioral sensitization or tolerance to all three doses of MPD. Acute MPD exposure elicited excitation in the majority of all VTA and LC units. Chronic MPD exposure elicited a further increase in VTA and LC neuronal activity in animals exhibiting behavioral sensitization and an attenuation in VTA and LC neuronal activity in animals exhibiting behavioral tolerance, demonstrating neurophysiological sensitization and tolerance, respectively. The similar pattern in VTA and LC unit activity suggests that the two structures are linked in their response to MPD. These results may help determine the exact mechanism of action of MPD, resulting in optimized treatment of patients. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The same dose of 0.6, 2.5, and 10 mg/kg methylphenidate (MPD) elicits either behavioral sensitization or tolerance in adolescent rats. There is a direct correlation between the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC) neuronal response to chronic MPD exposure. Both the VTA and LC are involved in the behavioral and neurophysiological effects of chronic MPD.

scholarly journals Prefrontal Regulation of Neuronal Activity in the Ventral Tegmental Area

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 4057-4068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Sang Jo ◽  
Sheri J.Y. Mizumori
Keyword(s):  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

EFFECTS OF SYSTEMIC PHENCYCLIDINE ON NEURONAL ACTIVITY OF VENTRAL TEGMENTAL AREA IN A CLASSICAL CONDITIONING PARADIGM

2010 ◽  
Vol 117 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadahiro Katayama ◽  
Eiichi Jodo ◽  
Masahiro Okamoto ◽  
Yoshiaki Suzuki ◽  
Ken-Yo Hoshino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Classical Conditioning ◽  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Conditioning Paradigm ◽  
Ventral Tegmental
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