RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Dopamine Triggers Heterosynaptic Plasticity
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 6759
OP 6765
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4694-12.2013
VO 33
IS 16
A1 Masago Ishikawa
A1 Mami Otaka
A1 Yanhua H. Huang
A1 Peter A. Neumann
A1 Bradley D. Winters
A1 Anthony A. Grace
A1 Oliver M. Schlüter
A1 Yan Dong
YR 2013
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/16/6759.abstract
AB As a classic neuromodulator, dopamine has long been thought to modulate, rather than trigger, synaptic plasticity. In contrast, our present results demonstrate that within the parallel projections of dopaminergic and GABAergic terminals from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens core (NAcCo), action-potential-activated release of dopamine heterosynaptically triggers LTD at GABAergic synapses, which is likely mediated by activating presynaptically located dopamine D1 class receptors and expressed by inhibiting presynaptic release of GABA. Moreover, this dopamine-mediated heterosynaptic LTD is abolished after withdrawal from cocaine exposure. These results suggest that action-potential-dependent dopamine release triggers very different cellular consequences from those induced by volume release or pharmacological manipulation. Activation of the ventral tegmental area to NAcCo projections is essential for emotional and motivational responses. This dopamine-mediated LTD allows a flexible output of NAcCo neurons, whereas disruption of this LTD may contribute to the rigid emotional and motivational state observed in addicts during cocaine withdrawal.