Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Imre Kallo, Azar Omrani, Frank J. Meye, Han de Jong, Zsolt Liposits, Roger A. H. Adan
Summary: Orexin neurons play a role in homeostatic regulatory processes and provide input to VTA, a central hub processing reward and motivation. This study found that the VTA neurons projecting to the mNAcs receive more input from orexin neurons compared to those projecting to the mPFC. Orexin exerts facilitatory effects on both clusters of dopamine neurons.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valeska Cid-Jofre, Macarena Moreno, Ramon Sotomayor-Zarate, Gonzalo Cruz, Georgina M. Renard
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic MOD treatment on neurochemicals, dopamine receptor 2 expression, and behavior in the mesocorticolimbic system of young healthy rats. The results showed that chronic use of MOD during adolescence induces behavioral and neurochemical changes associated with the mesocorticolimbic system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Akos Babiczky, Ferenc Matyas
Summary: The influence of the prefrontal cortex on the mesolimbic system, including the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area, is involved in various cognitive processes and behavioral malfunctions. In this study, the authors used tracing techniques to characterize the specific anatomical connections between the medial prefrontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area in mice. They found that different populations of prefrontal cortex neurons project to the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area with different laminar distributions and molecular markers, indicating separation at the cellular level. This research contributes to our understanding of the functions and disorders of the mesocorticolimbic system.
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
Neurosciences
Tony Jung, Roger Hudson, Walter Rushlow, Steven R. Laviolette
Summary: Cannabidiol (CBD) and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, both found in cannabis, have the potential to regulate neurotransmission and treat neuropsychiatric disorders. They may produce their effects through PPAR signaling. This review examines the relationship between CBD, omega-3s, and PPARs in the modulation of mesocorticolimbic dopamine abnormalities and associated neuropsychiatric symptoms.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kolter Grigsby, Courtney Ledford, Tanvi Batish, Snigdha Kanadibhotla, Delaney Smith, Evan Firsick, Alexander Tran, Kayla Townsley, Kaylee-Abril Vasquez Reyes, Katherine LeBlanc, Angela Ozburn
Summary: Previous studies have shown that circadian genes play a role in regulating alcohol intake and harmful alcohol use can alter circadian rhythms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic binge-like drinking on diurnal circadian gene expression patterns in specific brain regions relevant to circadian biology and alcohol intake. The findings suggest that binge-like drinking reduces the amplitude of core circadian clock genes in certain brain regions, providing important insights for the development of pharmacotherapies to reduce harmful drinking and mitigate alcohol's effects on circadian gene expression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Pina Serra, Francesco Sanna, Marianna Boi, Laura Poddighe, Lorenzo Secci, Marcello Trucas, Alberto Fernandez-Teruel, Maria Giuseppa Corda, Osvaldo Giorgi, Marina Quartu
Summary: This study investigated the effects of acute forced swimming on the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase receptor B (trkB) proteins in vulnerable and resistant rats. The results showed that the genetic background influenced the effects of stress on BDNF/trkB signaling and that the same stressor may impact differently on the expression of BDNF in discrete brain areas.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Man-yi Jing, Xiao-yan Ding, Xiao Han, Tai-yun Zhao, Min-min Luo, Ning Wu, Jin Li, Rui Song
Summary: This study found that cue-induced reinstatement of reward seeking is partially mediated by activation of the dopaminergic pathway from the VTA to the NAcore. In a mouse model, activation of this pathway triggered reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior, while inhibition of this pathway suppressed reinstatement behavior.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lucia Caffino, Francesca Mottarlini, Gianmaria Zita, Dawid Gawlinski, Kinga Gawlinska, Karolina Wydra, Edmund Przegalinski, Fabio Fumagalli
Summary: Drug addiction is a devastating disorder that poses a huge economic and social burden on modern society, with adolescents being particularly vulnerable. Research has shown that exposure to cocaine during adolescence confers a vulnerable endophenotype primarily by inducing changes in neuroplasticity.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu Liu, Gavan P. McNally
Summary: Dopamine plays a crucial role in relapse to drug seeking, with different forms of relapse being driven by distinct dopamine mechanisms. Understanding the diverse dopamine pathways involved in relapse behaviors is essential for developing effective strategies to prevent relapse.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Yael Jacob, Laurel S. Morris, Gaurav Verma, Sarah B. Rutter, Priti Balchandani, James W. Murrough
Summary: The hippocampus and amygdala limbic structures play a critical role in the development of major depressive disorder (MDD). This study explores the role of their subregions in the whole brain network to uncover patterns related to the disorder. The results suggest that alterations in the connectivity and clustering of these subregions are associated with the diagnosis and severity of depression.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Tiffany C. Ho, Boris Gutman, Elena Pozzi, Hans J. Grabe, Norbert Hosten, Katharina Wittfeld, Henry Voelzke, Bernhard Baune, Udo Dannlowski, Katharina Foerster, Dominik Grotegerd, Ronny Redlich, Andreas Jansen, Tilo Kircher, Axel Krug, Susanne Meinert, Igor Nenadic, Nils Opel, Richard Dinga, Dick J. Veltman, Knut Schnell, Ilya Veer, Henrik Walter, Ian H. Gotlib, Matthew D. Sacchet, Andre Aleman, Nynke A. Groenewold, Dan J. Stein, Meng Li, Martin Walter, Christopher R. K. Ching, Neda Jahanshad, Anjanibhargavi Ragothaman, Dmitry Isaev, Artemis Zavaliangos-Petropulu, Paul M. Thompson, Philipp G. Saemann, Lianne Schmaal
Summary: This study investigated the differences in subcortical shape between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls. The results showed that both adolescent-onset MDD and recurrent MDD patients had lower thickness and surface area in certain subcortical regions compared to healthy controls.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ming Sun, Chao Wu, Lixin Liu, Liang Gu, Zihao Wang, Feng Xu, Donglin Zhu
Summary: The brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in substance abuse and addiction. The two arms of RAS, ACE1/Ang II/AT1R axis and ACE2/Ang(1-7)/MasR axis, are disrupted in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) during alcohol addiction. The dysregulated RAS in the VTA stimulates oxidative stress and dopaminergic neurotransmission, contributing to alcohol addiction.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Lei Fan, Huan Chen, Yong Liu, Hongwei Hou, Qingyuan Hu
Summary: Nicotine interacts with nAChRs in the VTA, leading to dopamine release in the NAc. Repeated nicotine exposure induces neuroplasticity changes, and the activation of nAChRs involves intracellular signaling cascades. The underlying molecular mechanisms of this adaptation are unclear.
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Philip W. Gold
Summary: The PPARg system plays a crucial role in depression by increasing BDNF levels and activity in specific brain areas, promoting neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, and influencing behavioral and physiological processes in patients with depression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)