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The Journal of Neuroscience, June 3, 2009, 29(22):7349-7358; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0381-09.2009

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Cellular/Molecular
Retrograde Opioid Signaling Regulates Glutamatergic Transmission in the Hypothalamus

Karl J. Iremonger and Jaideep S. Bains

Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada

Correspondence should be addressed to Jaideep S. Bains at the above address. Email: jsbains{at}ucalgary.ca

Opioid signaling in the CNS is critical for controlling cellular excitability, yet the conditions under which endogenous opioid peptides are released and the precise mechanisms by which they affect synaptic transmission remain poorly understood. The opioid peptide dynorphin is present in the soma and dendrites of vasopressin neurons in the hypothalamus and dynamically controls the excitability of these cells in vivo. Here, we show that dynorphin is released from dendritic vesicles in response to postsynaptic activity and acts in a retrograde manner to inhibit excitatory synaptic transmission. This inhibition, which requires the activation of -opioid receptors, results from a reduction in presynaptic release of glutamate vesicles. The opioid inhibition is downstream of Ca²⁺ entry and is likely mediated by a direct modulation of presynaptic fusion machinery. These findings demonstrate that neurons may self-regulate their excitability through the dendritic release of opioids to inhibit excitatory synaptic transmission.

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Received Jan. 23, 2009; revised March 24, 2009; accepted May 6, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Jaideep S. Bains at the above address. Email: jsbains{at}ucalgary.ca

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J.-M. Israel, D. A. Poulain, and S. H. R. Oliet Glutamatergic Inputs Contribute to Phasic Activity in Vasopressin Neurons J. Neurosci., January 27, 2010; 30(4): 1221 - 1232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Scott, V. R. Bishop, G. Leng, and C. H. Brown Dehydration-induced modulation of \#954;-opioid inhibition of vasopressin neurone activity J. Physiol., December 1, 2009; 587(23): 5679 - 5689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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