scholarly journals Manipulating midbrain dopamine neurons and reward-related behaviors with light-controllable nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain Durand-de Cuttoli ◽  
Sarah Mondoloni ◽  
Fabio Marti ◽  
Damien Lemoine ◽  
Claire Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Optical Manipulation ◽  
Chemical Genetic ◽  
Brain Circuits ◽  
Midbrain Dopamine ◽  
Firing Properties

Dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) integrate cholinergic inputs to regulate key functions such as motivation and goal-directed behaviors. Yet the temporal dynamic range and mechanism of action of acetylcholine (ACh) on the modulation of VTA circuits and reward-related behaviors are not known. Here, we used a chemical-genetic approach for rapid and precise optical manipulation of nicotinic neurotransmission in VTA neurons in living mice. We provide direct evidence that the ACh tone fine-tunes the firing properties of VTA DA neurons through β2-containing (β2*) nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs). Furthermore, locally photo-antagonizing these receptors in the VTA was sufficient to reversibly switch nicotine reinforcement on and off. By enabling control of nicotinic transmission in targeted brain circuits, this technology will help unravel the various physiological functions of nAChRs and may assist in the design of novel therapies relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals Somatic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors control the activity of dopamine neurons and reward-related behaviors

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain Durand-de Cuttoli ◽  
Sarah Mondoloni ◽  
Fabio Marti ◽  
Damien Lemoine ◽  
Jérémie Naudé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Optical Manipulation ◽  
Chemical Genetic ◽  
Brain Circuits ◽  
Firing Properties

SummaryDopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) integrate cholinergic inputs to regulate key functions such as motivation and goal-directed behaviors. Yet the temporal dynamic range and mechanism of action of acetylcholine (ACh) on the modulation of VTA circuits and reward-related behaviors are not known. Here we used a chemical-genetic approach for rapid and precise optical manipulation of nicotinic neurotransmission in VTA neurons in vivo. We provide direct evidence that the ACh tone fine-tunes the firing properties of VTA DA neurons through somatic β2-containing (β2*) nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs). Furthermore, locally photo-antagonizing these receptors in the VTA was sufficient to reversibly switch nicotine reinforcement on and off. By enabling control of nicotinic transmission in targeted brain circuits, this technology will help unravel the various physiological functions of nAChRs and may assist in the design of novel therapies relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals In Vivo Activation of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons via Sensitized, High-Affinity α6∗ Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Neuron ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Drenan ◽  
Sharon R. Grady ◽  
Paul Whiteaker ◽  
Tristan McClure-Begley ◽  
Sheri McKinney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Midbrain Dopamine ◽  
Midbrain Dopamine Neurons

Activation of Spinal Wide Dynamic Range Neurons by Intracutaneous Microinjection of Nicotine

1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 3046-3055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven L. Jinks ◽  
E. Carstens
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Receptive Fields ◽  
Threshold Region ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Evoked Responses ◽  
Wide Dynamic Range ◽  
Analgesic Effects ◽  
Wdr Neurons

Nicotine evokes pain in the skin and oral mucosa and excites a subpopulation of cutaneous nociceptors, but little is known about the central transmission of chemogenic pain. We have investigated the responses of lumbar spinal wide dynamic range (WDR)-type dorsal horn neurons to intracutaneous (ic) microinjection of nicotine in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Nearly all (97%) units responded to nicotine microinjected ic (1 μl) into the low-threshold region of the hind-paw mechanosensitive receptive field in a concentration-related manner (0.01–10%). Responses to repeated injections of 10% nicotine exhibited tachyphylaxis at 5-, 10-, and 15-min interstimulus intervals. Significant tachyphylaxis was not seen with 1% nicotine. All nicotine-responsive units tested ( n = 30) also responded to ic histamine (1 μl, 3%) and did not exhibit tachyphylaxis to repeated histamine. However, there was significant cross-tachyphylaxis of nicotine to histamine. Thus 5 min after ic nicotine, histamine-evoked responses were attenuated significantly compared with the initial histamine-evoked response prior to nicotine, with partial recovery over the ensuing 15 min. Neuronal excitation by ic nicotine was not mediated by histamine H1 receptors because ic injection of the H1 receptor antagonist, cetirizine, had no effect on ic nicotine-evoked responses, whereas it significantly attenuated ic histamine-evoked responses in the same neurons. The lowest-threshold portion of cutaneous receptive fields showed a significant expansion in area at 20 min after ic nicotine 10%, indicative of sensitization. Responses to 1% nicotine were significantly reduced after ic injection of the nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine (0.1% ic), with no recovery over the ensuing 40–60 min. These data indicate that nicotine ic excites spinal WDR neurons, partly via neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are presumably expressed in cutaneous nociceptor terminals. Repeated injections of high concentrations of nicotine led to tachyphylaxis and cross-tachyphylaxis with histamine, possibly relevant to peripheral analgesic effects of nicotine.

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