scholarly journals Somatic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors control the activity of dopamine neurons and reward-related behaviors

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain Durand-de Cuttoli ◽  
Sarah Mondoloni ◽  
Fabio Marti ◽  
Damien Lemoine ◽  
Jérémie Naudé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Optical Manipulation ◽  
Chemical Genetic ◽  
Brain Circuits ◽  
Firing Properties

SummaryDopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) integrate cholinergic inputs to regulate key functions such as motivation and goal-directed behaviors. Yet the temporal dynamic range and mechanism of action of acetylcholine (ACh) on the modulation of VTA circuits and reward-related behaviors are not known. Here we used a chemical-genetic approach for rapid and precise optical manipulation of nicotinic neurotransmission in VTA neurons in vivo. We provide direct evidence that the ACh tone fine-tunes the firing properties of VTA DA neurons through somatic β2-containing (β2*) nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs). Furthermore, locally photo-antagonizing these receptors in the VTA was sufficient to reversibly switch nicotine reinforcement on and off. By enabling control of nicotinic transmission in targeted brain circuits, this technology will help unravel the various physiological functions of nAChRs and may assist in the design of novel therapies relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals Manipulating midbrain dopamine neurons and reward-related behaviors with light-controllable nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain Durand-de Cuttoli ◽  
Sarah Mondoloni ◽  
Fabio Marti ◽  
Damien Lemoine ◽  
Claire Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Optical Manipulation ◽  
Chemical Genetic ◽  
Brain Circuits ◽  
Midbrain Dopamine ◽  
Firing Properties

Dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) integrate cholinergic inputs to regulate key functions such as motivation and goal-directed behaviors. Yet the temporal dynamic range and mechanism of action of acetylcholine (ACh) on the modulation of VTA circuits and reward-related behaviors are not known. Here, we used a chemical-genetic approach for rapid and precise optical manipulation of nicotinic neurotransmission in VTA neurons in living mice. We provide direct evidence that the ACh tone fine-tunes the firing properties of VTA DA neurons through β2-containing (β2*) nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs). Furthermore, locally photo-antagonizing these receptors in the VTA was sufficient to reversibly switch nicotine reinforcement on and off. By enabling control of nicotinic transmission in targeted brain circuits, this technology will help unravel the various physiological functions of nAChRs and may assist in the design of novel therapies relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals In Vivo Activation of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons via Sensitized, High-Affinity α6∗ Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Neuron ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Drenan ◽  
Sharon R. Grady ◽  
Paul Whiteaker ◽  
Tristan McClure-Begley ◽  
Sheri McKinney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Midbrain Dopamine ◽  
Midbrain Dopamine Neurons

N-cholinergic facilitation of glutamate release from an individual retinotectal fiber in frog

2001 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 549-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. KURAS ◽  
N. GUTMANIENĖ
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Kynurenic Acid ◽  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Synaptic Potentials ◽  
Lower Vertebrates ◽  
Optic Fibers ◽  
Retinotectal Transmission

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are localized on retinotectal axons' terminals in lower vertebrates. The effects of activation of these receptors by endogenous acetylcholine were observed under stimulation of mass optic fibers. This study was designed to determine whether endogenous acetylcholine facilitates frog retinotectal transmission, provided only the synapses of an individual optic axon are activated, and to evaluate the feasible extent of nicotinic facilitation in these synapses by applied agonist. To this end, the effects of cholinergic drugs on the extracellular action and synaptic potentials recorded from the terminal arborization of a separate retinotectal fiber (in layer F of the tectum) were investigated in vivo. Glutamatergic nature of retinotectal synapses was reexamined by treatment with kynurenic acid. Both kynurenic acid (0.25–1 mM) and d-tubocurarine chloride (10–15 μM) significantly depressed the synaptic potentials. Carbamylcholine chloride (50–150 μM) evoked a large augmentation of the synaptic potentials and a slight but statistically significant decrease of the action potentials. D-tubocurarine reduced the effect of carbamylcholine. Pilocarpine hydrochloride (50 μM) had only a weak effect. The paired-pulse facilitation of the synaptic potentials changed significantly under the action of carbamylcholine and d-tubocurarine. The obtained results suggest that the glutamate release from activated synapses of individual retinotectal axons is facilitated by endogenous acetylcholine via presynaptic nicotinic receptors. Under used stimulation conditions, this modulation mechanism was employed only partially since its activation by applied carbamylcholine could enhance synaptic transmission up to 2.8 times.

scholarly journals The Prototoxin lynx1 Acts on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors to Balance Neuronal Activity and Survival In Vivo

Neuron ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. Miwa ◽  
Tanya R. Stevens ◽  
Sarah L. King ◽  
Barbara J. Caldarone ◽  
Ines Ibanez-Tallon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine

Activation of Spinal Wide Dynamic Range Neurons by Intracutaneous Microinjection of Nicotine

1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 3046-3055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven L. Jinks ◽  
E. Carstens
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Receptive Fields ◽  
Threshold Region ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Evoked Responses ◽  
Wide Dynamic Range ◽  
Analgesic Effects ◽  
Wdr Neurons

Nicotine evokes pain in the skin and oral mucosa and excites a subpopulation of cutaneous nociceptors, but little is known about the central transmission of chemogenic pain. We have investigated the responses of lumbar spinal wide dynamic range (WDR)-type dorsal horn neurons to intracutaneous (ic) microinjection of nicotine in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Nearly all (97%) units responded to nicotine microinjected ic (1 μl) into the low-threshold region of the hind-paw mechanosensitive receptive field in a concentration-related manner (0.01–10%). Responses to repeated injections of 10% nicotine exhibited tachyphylaxis at 5-, 10-, and 15-min interstimulus intervals. Significant tachyphylaxis was not seen with 1% nicotine. All nicotine-responsive units tested ( n = 30) also responded to ic histamine (1 μl, 3%) and did not exhibit tachyphylaxis to repeated histamine. However, there was significant cross-tachyphylaxis of nicotine to histamine. Thus 5 min after ic nicotine, histamine-evoked responses were attenuated significantly compared with the initial histamine-evoked response prior to nicotine, with partial recovery over the ensuing 15 min. Neuronal excitation by ic nicotine was not mediated by histamine H1 receptors because ic injection of the H1 receptor antagonist, cetirizine, had no effect on ic nicotine-evoked responses, whereas it significantly attenuated ic histamine-evoked responses in the same neurons. The lowest-threshold portion of cutaneous receptive fields showed a significant expansion in area at 20 min after ic nicotine 10%, indicative of sensitization. Responses to 1% nicotine were significantly reduced after ic injection of the nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine (0.1% ic), with no recovery over the ensuing 40–60 min. These data indicate that nicotine ic excites spinal WDR neurons, partly via neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are presumably expressed in cutaneous nociceptor terminals. Repeated injections of high concentrations of nicotine led to tachyphylaxis and cross-tachyphylaxis with histamine, possibly relevant to peripheral analgesic effects of nicotine.

scholarly journals Effects of preganglionic denervation and postganglionic axotomy on acetylcholine receptors in the chick ciliary ganglion.

1987 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 1847-1854 ◽  
Author(s):  
M H Jacob ◽  
D K Berg
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Ciliary Ganglion ◽  
Ciliary Ganglion Neurons ◽  
Membrane Components ◽  
Ganglion Neurons ◽  
Alpha Bungarotoxin ◽  
Binding Component

The regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) in chick ciliary ganglia was examined by using a radiolabeled anti-AChR mAb to quantitate the amount of receptor in ganglion detergent extracts after preganglionic denervation or postganglionic axotomy. Surgical transection of the preganglionic input to the ciliary ganglion in newly hatched chicks caused a threefold reduction in the total number of AChRs within 10 d compared with that present in unoperated contralateral control ganglia. Surgical transection of both the choroid and ciliary nerves emerging from the ciliary ganglion in newly hatched chicks to establish postganglionic axotomy led to a nearly 10-fold reduction in AChRs within 5 d compared with unoperated contralateral ganglia. The declines were specific since they could not be accounted for by changes in ganglionic protein or by decreases in neuronal survival or size. Light microscopy revealed no gross morphological differences between neurons in operated and control ganglia. A second membrane component of cholinergic relevance on chick ciliary ganglion neurons is the alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-Bgt)-binding component. The alpha-Bgt-binding component also declined in number after either postganglionic axotomy or preganglionic denervation, but appeared to do so with a more rapid time course than did ganglionic AChRs. The results imply that cell-cell interactions in vivo specifically regulate both the number of AChRs and the number of alpha-Bgt-binding components in the ganglion. Regulation of these neuronal cholinergic membrane components clearly differs from that previously described for muscle AChRs.

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