Nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons target non-dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area.
J Neurosci
; 31(21): 7811-6, 2011 May 25.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21613494
ABSTRACT
The midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) projection to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is implicated in motivation and reinforcement. A significant number of NAc medium spiny neurons (MSNs) project back to the VTA, although the nature of this projection is essentially unknown. For example, do NAc MSNs directly target accumbens-projecting dopamine neurons and do they act via the GABA(A) or GABA(B) receptor? To address these issues, we expressed the light-sensitive channel rhodopsin-2 in the rat NAc and made electrophysiological recordings from VTA neurons ex vivo. We found that the NAc directly targets non-dopaminergic VTA neurons, including some that project back to the NAc. These MSN GABAergic terminals are opioid sensitive and act via GABA(A) receptors.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Action Potentials
/
Dopamine
/
Ventral Tegmental Area
/
Neurons
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Nucleus Accumbens
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
J Neurosci
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States