The Journal of Neuroscience, 2001, 21:RC160:1-6
RAPID COMMUNICATION
Potent Regulation of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons by the Bed Nucleus
of the Stria Terminalis
François
Georges and
Gary
Aston-Jones
Laboratory for Neuromodulation and Behavior, Department of
Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19104
Recent studies have revealed an important role of the ventrolateral
(subcommissural) aspect of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis
(vBNST) in motivational aspects of drug abuse (Delfs et al., 2000).
Dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have also
long been linked to motivation and drug abuse (Koob and Le Moal, 2001).
The present study tested whether activity in the vBNST influences
discharge of midbrain DA neurons. Responses of DA neurons in the
VTA to activation of the vBNST were characterized in anesthetized rats
using extracellular recording techniques. Electrical or chemical
[10-50 mM glutamate (Glu)] stimulation of the vBNST
consistently activated DA cells (122% increase in activity with 50 mM Glu). However, stronger chemical stimulation of the
vBNST (100 mM Glu) completely inactivated DA neurons. In addition, apomorphine restored the activity of DA neurons that were
inactivated by 100 mM Glu stimulation of the vBNST,
indicating possible depolarization blockade of DA cells by vBNST
activity. These findings reveal that the vBNST exerts a strong
excitatory influence on DA neurons. Also striking was the finding that
chemical stimulation (50 mM Glu) of the vBNST yielded
long-lasting oscillatory activity (>15 min) in VTA DA neurons. These
results indicate that the vBNST can generate long-lasting alterations
in the activity of DA neurons in vivo.
Key words:
dopamine neurons; ventral tegmental area; bed
nucleus of the stria terminalis; depolarization blockade; noradrenaline-dopamine interactions; extracellular recording
techniques
Copyright © Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474//$05.00/0
Previous Article | Next Article
