Elsevier

Brain Research Reviews

Volume 3, Issue 2, October 1981, Pages 141-151
Brain Research Reviews

Dopaminergic neurons in the rat ventral tegmental area. II. Evidence for autoregulation

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0173(81)90003-5Get rights and content

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the firing activity of A10 DA neurons are depressed following antidromic stimulation of the NAc. This study present data showing that the N Ac-induced effect might be mediated by a direct DA dendrodendritic and/ or axon collateral inhibitory system. The evidence may be summarized as follows:

  • 1.

    (1) the response of A10 DA neurons to stimulation of the Nac depended upon antidromic invasion of DA fibers; either destruction of DA projections or acutely blocked DA transmission by 6-OHDA prevented the depressant response of the great majority of A10 cells to NAc-stimulation,

  • 2.

    (2) DA antagonists either blocked or markedly reduced NAc-induced depressant effect on identified A10 DA neurons, and

  • 3.

    (3) iontophoresis of DA consistently inhibited firing of identified A10 DA neurons. However, destruction of neuronal perikarya in the NAc by ibotenic acid also caused a reduction of NAc-induced effect. The latter finding suggests that in addition to the DA autoregulatory system in the VTA, afferent inputs from the NAc may also contribute to the NAc-induced depressant effect on A10 DA cells.

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