Nicotine modifies the activity of ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons and hippocampal GABAergic neurons

AbstractSeptal-hypothalamic neuronal activity centrally mediates aggressive behavior and dopamine system hyperactivity is associated with elevated aggression. However, the causal role of dopamine in aggression and its target circuit mechanisms are largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we studied the modulatory role of the population- and projection-specific dopamine function in a murine model of aggressive behavior. We find that terminal activity of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic neurons selectively projecting to the lateral septum (LS) is sufficient for promoting aggression and necessary for establishing baseline aggression. Within the LS, dopamine acts on D2-receptors to inhibit GABAergic neurons, and septal D2-signaling is necessary for VTA dopaminergic activity to promote aggression. Collectively, our data reveal a powerful modulatory influence of dopaminergic synaptic input on LS function and aggression, effectively linking the clinically pertinent hyper-dopaminergic model of aggression with the classic septal-hypothalamic aggression axis.

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Precise coordination of three-dimensional rotational kinematics by ventral tegmental area GABAergic neurons

Current Biology ◽

10.1016/j.cub.2021.04.008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (9) ◽

pp. 2037

Author(s):

Ryan N. Hughes ◽

Glenn D.R. Watson ◽

Elijah A. Petter ◽

Namsoo Kim ◽

Konstantin I. Bakhurin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ventral Tegmental Area ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Gabaergic Neurons ◽

Rotational Kinematics ◽

Ventral Tegmental

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Smoke Extracts and Nicotine, but not Tobacco Extracts, Potentiate Firing and Burst Activity of Ventral Tegmental Area Dopaminergic Neurons in Mice

Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1038/npp.2011.112 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 36 (11) ◽

pp. 2244-2257 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Fabio Marti ◽

Ouafa Arib ◽

Carole Morel ◽

Virginie Dufresne ◽

Uwe Maskos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ventral Tegmental Area ◽

Dopaminergic Neurons ◽

Burst Activity ◽

Ventral Tegmental

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Methylphenidate and amphetamine modulate differently the NMDA and AMPA glutamatergic transmission of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area

Life Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.lfs.2004.10.076 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 77 (6) ◽

pp. 635-649 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

B. Prieto-Gómez ◽

A.M. Vázquez-Alvarez ◽

J.L. Martínez-Peña ◽

C. Reyes-Vázquez ◽

P.B. Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ventral Tegmental Area ◽

Dopaminergic Neurons ◽

Glutamatergic Transmission ◽

Ventral Tegmental

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Cardiovascular depressor responses to stimulation of substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.1997.273.6.h2549 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 273 (6) ◽

pp. H2549-H2557 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Gilbert J. Kirouac ◽

John Ciriello

Keyword(s):

Substantia Nigra ◽

Ventral Tegmental Area ◽

Intravenous Administration ◽

Dopaminergic Neurons ◽

Cardiovascular Responses ◽

Receptor Blocker ◽

Transitional Region ◽

Pars Lateralis ◽

Ventral Tegmental ◽

Stimulation Of

Experiments were done in α-chloralose-anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated rats to investigate the effect ofl-glutamate (Glu) stimulation of the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) on arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR). Glu stimulation of the SN pars compacta (SNC) elicited decreases in both mean AP (MAP; −18.9 ± 1.3 mmHg; n = 52) and HR (−26.1 ± 1.6 beats/min; n = 46) at 81% of the sites stimulated. On the other hand, stimulation of the SN pars lateralis or pars reticulata did not elicit cardiovascular responses. Stimulation of the adjacent VTA region elicited similar decreases in MAP (−18.0 ± 2.6 mmHg; n = 20) and HR (−25.4 ± 3.8 beats/min; n = 17) at ∼74% of the sites stimulated. Intravenous administration of the dopamine D2-receptor antagonist raclopride significantly attenuated both the MAP (70%) and the HR (54%) responses elicited by stimulation of the transitional region where the SNC merges with the lateral VTA (SNC-VTA region). Intravenous administration of the muscarinic receptor blocker atropine methyl bromide had no effect on the magnitude of the MAP and HR responses to stimulation of the SNC-VTA region, whereas administration of the nicotinic receptor blocker hexamethonium bromide significantly attenuated both the depressor and the bradycardic responses. These data suggest that dopaminergic neurons in the SNC-VTA region activate a central pathway that exerts cardiovascular depressor effects that are mediated by the inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstrictor fibers to the vasculature and cardioacceleratory fibers to the heart.

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