Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel J. Christoffel, Jessica J. Walsh, Paul Hoerbelt, Boris D. Heifets, Pierre Llorach, Ricardo C. Lopez, Charu Ramakrishnan, Karl Deisseroth, Robert C. Malenka
Summary: The study reveals that dopamine and serotonin modulate excitatory synaptic transmission in the nucleus accumbens in input-specific ways, influencing motivated behaviors differently. Endogenous release of DA and 5-HT, as well as optogenetic inhibition, alter the behavioral effects of drugs in distinct manners.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Tong-Yu Liang, Hua Zhou, Yan-Gang Sun
Summary: Ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic neurons participate in itch processing through their projection to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The roles of dopamine receptor subtypes in different subregions of the NAc during itch processing were investigated. It was found that dopamine D1 receptors (D1R) blockade in the lateral shell (LaSh) impaired pruritogen-induced scratching behavior, while D2R activation in both LaSh and medial shell (MeSh) attenuated scratching behavior. Dopamine release in LaSh was elevated during scratching behavior, suggesting a motivational component of itch processing. This study highlights the importance of D1R in the LaSh of the NAc in itch signal processing.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Dan P. Covey, Edith Hernandez, Miguel A. Lujan, Joseph F. Cheer
Summary: The study found that dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens responds differently to cues signaling increasing cost of reward. Endocannabinoid signaling facilitates goal-seeking and nucleus accumbens dopamine release, while chronic MAGL treatment stably facilitates goal-seeking and dopamine encoding without the development of tolerance.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ana Paula S. Dornellas, Giovana C. Macedo, Minna H. McFarland, Alexander Gomez-A, Todd K. O'Buckley, Claudio Da Cunha, A. Leslie Morrow, Donita L. Robinson
Summary: Research has shown that allopregnanolone can reduce dopamine release in both male and female rats, with its effects modulated by sex and estrous cycle stages.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiaonan Li, Lehua Lu, Ying He, Hui Zhang, Yihui Zhang, Huaquan Sheng, Ming Chen, Jiexiong Ru, Yihan Gao
Summary: This study examined the effects of different nicotine salts on dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) using a fluorescent probe and optical fiber photometric recording equipment. The results showed that different nicotine salts increased DA release in the NAc, but each salt had different efficiency in increasing DA release with concentration changes.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sharmili Edwin Thanarajah, Ruth Hanssen, Corina Melzer, Marc Tittgemeyer
Summary: The study explored the effect of FTO genetic variations on impulsivity and neuroplastic alterations. It found that FTO risk allele carriers exhibited higher impulsivity and increased structural connectivity between VTA/SN and NAc. These findings suggest that FTO variants may influence obesity-promoting behavioral traits through neuroplastic alterations.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lucia Caffino, Francesca Mottarlini, Giorgia Targa, Michel M. M. Verheij, Fabio Fumagalli, Judith R. Homberg
Summary: This study investigates the influence of SERT deletion on glutamate homeostasis in the NAc, and finds that SERT deletion leads to a reduction in glutamate signaling and further dysregulation in the glutamatergic synapse after cocaine self-administration.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lucia Caffino, Francesca Mottarlini, Giorgia Targa, Michel M. M. Verheij, Judith Homberg, Fabio Fumagalli
Summary: The study found that the deletion of serotonin transporter (SERT) may sensitize the glutamatergic synapses of the nucleus accumbens core to long-term but not short-term intake of cocaine.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xinjian Zhang, Daisuke Tsuboi, Yasuhiro Funahashi, Yukie Yamahashi, Kozo Kaibuchi, Taku Nagai
Summary: Dopamine regulates emotional behaviors, including rewarding and aversive behaviors, through the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. Protein phosphorylation plays a critical role in intracellular signaling pathways and physiological functions, and dopamine regulates neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity through phosphorylation of intracellular substrates. Understanding the mechanisms by which dopamine controls emotional behaviors is crucial.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Anil Joshi, Marion Schott, Susanne Eva la Fleur, Michel Barrot
Summary: Food intake is a necessary behavior for all animals, but excessive consumption of fat and sugar can lead to obesity. This review provides insights into the impact of food intake on the striatal complex and the modulation of palatable food intake by different neurochemical systems.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Rapheal G. Williams, Kevin H. Li, Paul E. M. Phillips
Summary: This study found that stress affects the interaction between CRF and dopamine in the core of the nucleus accumbens, which in turn affects performance in a reward-based decision-making task. Dopamine and CRF have different effects on different behavioral aspects.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yong-Qing Zhang, Hyun Kyu Min, Eunchong Hong, Eunhye Yu, Sun Mi Gu, Seong Shoon Yoon, Dohyun Lee, Jaejun Lee, Jin Tae Hong, Jaesuk Yun
Summary: The ICSS model was used to evaluate the abuse potential of 18 drugs in mice, and it was found that DAT availability and extracellular dopamine levels in the mPFC and NAc correlated with the ICSS threshold. These findings suggest a relationship between DAT availability-mediated dopamine levels and drug-induced reward-seeking behavior.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Karolina Farrell, Armin Lak, Aman B. Saleem
Summary: Midbrain dopamine neurons encode reward prediction error signals to improve goal-directed navigation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felix P. Mayer, Hideki Iwamoto, Maureen K. Hahn, Gregory J. Grumbar, Adele Stewart, Yulong Li, Randy D. Blakely
Summary: The study demonstrates that moving animals from a recording chamber back to a familiar or clean cage triggers dopamine release, showing a similar effect to cocaine injection in the recording chamber. This suggests that returning to a home-like environment can result in DA release, indicating a rewarding stimulus. The findings provide insights into the reward circuitry and offer potential for studying anhedonic states and developing new treatments for mood disorders.
NEUROCHEMISTRY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hannah N. Carlson, Carolyn Murphy, Wayne E. Pratt
Summary: The nucleus accumbens plays a critical role in regulating motivated behavior, with dopamine and opioid receptors within it having varying effects on appetitive and consummatory phases of motivation. Stimulation or blockade of different receptor types showed distinct impacts on food intake and sugar-seeking behavior, suggesting differential roles of mu- and 8-opioid receptors in food-directed motivation.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)