A-type K+ Current of Dopamine and GABA Neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 544-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susumu Koyama ◽  
Sarah B. Appel
Keyword(s):  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
Membrane Hyperpolarization ◽  
Gaba Neurons ◽  
Type K ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

A-type K+ current ( IA) is a rapidly inactivating voltage-dependent potassium current which can regulate the frequency of action potential (AP) generation. Increased firing frequency of ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons is associated with the reinforcing effects of some drugs of abuse like nicotine and ethanol. In the present study, we classified dopamine (DA) and GABA VTA neurons, and investigated IA properties and the physiological role of IA in these neurons using conventional whole cell current- and voltage-clamp recording. DA VTA neurons had a mean firing frequency of 3.5 Hz with a long AP duration. GABA VTA neurons had a mean firing frequency of 16.7 Hz with a short AP duration. For IA properties, the voltage-dependence of steady-state IA activation and inactivation was similar in DA and GABA VTA neurons. IA inactivation was significantly faster and became faster at positive voltages in GABA neurons than DA neurons. Recovery from inactivation was significantly faster in DA neurons than GABA neurons. IA current density at full recovery was significantly larger in DA neurons than GABA neurons. In DA and GABA VTA neurons, latency to the first AP after the recovery from membrane hyperpolarization (repolarization latency) was measured. Longer repolarization latency was accompanied by larger IA current density in DA VTA neurons, compared with GABA VTA neurons. We suggest that IA contributes more to the regulation of AP generation in DA VTA neurons than in GABA VTA neurons.

scholarly journals Ventral Tegmental Area GABA, glutamate, and glutamate-GABA neurons are heterogenous in their electrophysiological and pharmacological properties

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Miranda-Barrientos ◽  
Ian Chambers ◽  
Smriti Mongia ◽  
Bing Liu ◽  
Hui-Ling Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Viral Vectors ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Gaba Neurons ◽  
Double Transgenic Mouse ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

AbstractThe ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains dopamine neurons intermixed with GABA-releasing (expressing vesicular GABA transporter, VGaT), glutamate-releasing (expressing vesicular glutamate transporter, VGluT2), and co-releasing (co-expressing VGaT and VGluT2) neurons. By delivering INTRSECT viral vectors into VTA of double vglut2-Cre/vgat-Flp transgenic mice, we targeted specific VTA cell populations for ex vivo recordings. We found that VGluT2+ VGaT− and VGluT2+ VGaT+ neurons on average had relatively hyperpolarized resting membrane voltage, greater rheobase, and lower spontaneous firing frequency compared to VGluT2− VGaT+ neurons, suggesting that VTA glutamate-releasing and glutamate-GABA co-releasing neurons require stronger excitatory drive to fire than GABA-releasing neurons. In addition, we detected expression of Oprm1mRNA (encoding μ opioid receptors, MOR) in VGluT2+ VGaT− and VGluT2− VGaT+ neurons, and their hyperpolarization by the MOR agonist DAMGO. Collectively, we demonstrate the utility of the double transgenic mouse to access VTA glutamate, glutamate-GABA and GABA neurons, and show some electrophysiological heterogeneity among them.Impact StatementSome physiological properties of VTA glutamate-releasing and glutamate-GABA co-releasing neurons are distinct from those of VTA GABA-releasing neurons. μ-opioid receptor activation hyperpolarizes some VTA glutamate-releasing and some GABA-releasing neurons.

scholarly journals Ethanol Effects on Dopaminergic Ventral Tegmental Area Neurons During Block of Ih: Involvement of Barium-Sensitive Potassium Currents

2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 1202-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
John McDaid ◽  
Maureen A. McElvain ◽  
Mark S. Brodie
Keyword(s):  
Potassium Channels ◽  
Firing Rate ◽  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Potassium Conductance ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
Cationic Current ◽  
Ventral Tegmental ◽  
Ethanol Ethanol ◽  
Rats And Mice

The dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (DA VTA neurons) are important for the rewarding and reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse, including ethanol. Ethanol increases the firing frequency of DA VTA neurons from rats and mice. Because of a recent report on block of ethanol excitation in mouse DA VTA neurons with ZD7288, a selective blocker of the hyperpolarization-activated cationic current Ih, we examined the effect of ZD7288 on ethanol excitation in DA VTA neurons from C57Bl/6J and DBA/2J mice and Fisher 344 rats. Ethanol (80 mM) caused only increases in firing rate in mouse DA VTA neurons in the absence of ZD7288, but in the presence of ZD7288 (30 μM), ethanol produced a more transient excitation followed by a decrease of firing. This same biphasic phenomenon was observed in DA VTA neurons from rats in the presence of ZD7288 only at very high ethanol concentrations (160–240 mM) but not at lower pharmacologically relevant concentrations. The longer latency ethanol-induced inhibition was not observed in DA VTA neurons from mice or rats in the presence of barium (100 μM), which blocks G protein–linked potassium channels (GIRKs) and other inwardly rectifying potassium channels. Ethanol may have a direct effect to increase an inhibitory potassium conductance, but this effect of ethanol can only decrease the firing rate if Ih is blocked.

Characterization of M-Current in Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susumu Koyama ◽  
Sarah B. Appel
Keyword(s):  
Action Potential ◽  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Neuronal Excitability ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
M Current ◽  
Potential Shape ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Dependent Inhibition ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

M-current ( IM) is a voltage-gated potassium current (KCNQ type) that affects neuronal excitability and is modulated by some drugs of abuse. Ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons are important for the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. Therefore we studied IM in acutely dissociated rat DA VTA neurons with nystatin-perforated patch recording. The standard deactivation protocol was used to measure IM during voltage-clamp recording with hyperpolarizing voltage steps to −65 mV (in 10-mV increments) from a holding potential of −25 mV. IM amplitude was voltage dependent and maximal current amplitude was detected at −45 mV. The deactivation time constant of IM was voltage dependent and became shorter at more negative voltages. The IM/KCNQ antagonist XE991 (0.3–30 μM) caused a concentration-dependent reduction in IM amplitude with an IC50 of 0.71 μM. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 0.3–10 mM) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of IM with an IC50 of 1.56 mM. In current-clamp recordings, all DA VTA neurons were spontaneously active. Analysis of evoked action potential shape indicated that XE991 (1–10 μM) reduced the fast and slow components of the spike afterhyperpolarization (AHP) without affecting the middle component of the AHP. Action potential amplitude, duration, and threshold were not affected by XE991. In addition, 10 μM XE991 significantly shortened the interspike intervals in evoked spike trains. In conclusion, IM is active near threshold in DA VTA neurons, is blocked by XE991 (10 μM) and TEA (10 mM), may contribute to the shape of the AHP, and may decrease excitability of these neurons.

Restricted feeding with scheduled sucrose access results in an upregulation of the rat dopamine transporter

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (5) ◽  
pp. R1260-R1268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas T. Bello ◽  
Kristi L. Sweigart ◽  
Joan M. Lakoski ◽  
Ralph Norgren ◽  
Andras Hajnal
Keyword(s):  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Sucrose Solution ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Dopamine System ◽  
Ventral Tegmental ◽  
Protein Density

Recent studies suggest that the mesoaccumbens dopamine system undergoes neurochemical alterations as a result of restricted feeding conditions with access to sugars. This effect appears to be similar to the neuroadaptation resulting from drugs of abuse and may underlay some pathological feeding behaviors. To further investigate the cellular mechanisms of these alterations, the present study used quantitative autoradiography and in situ hybridization to assess dopamine membrane transporter (DAT) protein density and mRNA expression in restricted-fed and free-fed adult male rats. The restricted feeding regimen consisted of daily limited access to either a normally preferred sucrose solution (0.3 M) or a less preferred chow in a scheduled (i.e., contingent) fashion for 7 days. Restricted-fed rats with the contingent sucrose access lost less body weight, ate more total food, and drank more fluid than free-fed, contingent food, or noncontingent controls. In addition, these animals had selectively higher DAT binding in the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area. This increase in protein binding also was accompanied by an increase in DAT mRNA levels in the ventral tegmental area. In contrast to the restricted-fed groups, no differential effect in DAT regulation was observed across free-fed groups. The observed alteration in behavior and DAT regulation suggest that neuroadaptation in the mesoaccumbens dopamine system develops in response to repeated feeding on palatable foods under dietary constraints. This supports the notion that similar cellular changes may be involved in restrictive eating disorders and bingeing.

scholarly journals Intracellular Mg2+ is a voltage-dependent pore blocker of HCN channels

2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (2) ◽  
pp. C557-C565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sriharsha Vemana ◽  
Shilpi Pandey ◽  
H. Peter Larsson
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Inward Rectification ◽  
Hcn Channels ◽  
Membrane Hyperpolarization ◽  
Outward Currents ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Hcn1 Channels ◽  
Pore Blocker

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are activated by membrane hyperpolarization that creates time-dependent, inward rectifying currents, gated by the movement of the intrinsic voltage sensor S4. However, inward rectification of the HCN currents is not only observed in the time-dependent HCN currents, but also in the instantaneous HCN tail currents. Inward rectification can also be seen in mutant HCN channels that have mainly time-independent currents ( 5 ). In the present study, we show that intracellular Mg2+ functions as a voltage-dependent blocker of HCN channels, acting to reduce the outward currents. The affinity of HCN channels for Mg2+ is in the physiological range, with Mg2+ binding with an IC50 of 0.53 mM in HCN2 channels and 0.82 mM in HCN1 channels at +50 mV. The effective electrical distance for the Mg2+ binding site was found to be 0.19 for HCN1 channels, suggesting that the binding site is in the pore. Removing a cysteine in the selectivity filter of HCN1 channels reduced the affinity for Mg2+, suggesting that this residue forms part of the binding site deep within the pore. Our results suggest that Mg2+ acts as a voltage-dependent pore blocker and, therefore, reduces outward currents through HCN channels. The pore-blocking action of Mg2+ may play an important physiological role, especially for the slowly gating HCN2 and HCN4 channels. Mg2+ could potentially block outward hyperpolarizing HCN currents at the plateau of action potentials, thus preventing a premature termination of the action potential.

Endogenous enkephalin modulation of dopamine neurons in ventral tegmental area

1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (2) ◽  
pp. R243-R249 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Kalivas ◽  
R. Richardson-Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Motor Activity ◽  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Dopamine Metabolism ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Spontaneous Motor Activity ◽  
Opioid Antagonist ◽  
Dopamine Antagonist ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

Many lines of evidence support the possibility that the opioid pentapeptides Met- and Leu-enkephalin can modulate dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Thus microinjection of enkephalin analogues into the VTA of rats produces a dopamine-dependent increase in spontaneous motor activity and an increase in dopamine metabolism in certain mesolimbic dopamine terminal fields, such as the nucleus accumbens. To determine if these effects can be produced by endogenous enkephalins, an enkephalinase A inhibitor, thiorphan, was microinjected into the VTA to inhibit enkephalin metabolism. Thiorphan produced a dose-dependent (0.3-3.33 micrograms) increase in spontaneous motor activity that was blocked by pretreatment with the opioid antagonist naloxone (2.0 mg/kg ip) or the dopamine antagonist haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg ip). Thiorphan injection into the VTA increased dopamine metabolism in the nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and septum but not in the striatum. In all brain regions the increase in dopamine metabolism was blocked by pretreatment with naloxone. These data demonstrate that endogenous enkephalin in the VTA can increase the activity of A10 dopamine neurons, supporting a physiological role for enkephalin in mesolimbic and mesocortical dopamine-mediated behaviors.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document