Localisation of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunits in Rat Substantia Nigra and Dorsal Striatum

Accumbens cholinergic interneurons dynamically promote dopamine release and enable motivation

Motivation to work for potential rewards is critically dependent on dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). DA release from NAc axons can be controlled by at least two distinct mechanisms: (1) action potentials propagating from DA cell bodies in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and (2) activation of β2* nicotinic receptors by local cholinergic interneurons (CINs). How CIN activity contributes to NAc DA dynamics in behaving animals is not well understood. We monitored DA release in the NAc Core of awake, unrestrained rats using the DA sensor RdLight1, while simultaneously monitoring or manipulating CIN activity at the same location. CIN stimulation rapidly evoked DA release, and in contrast to slice preparations, this DA release showed no indication of short-term depression or receptor desensitization. The sound of unexpected food delivery evoked a brief joint increase in CIN population activity and DA release, with a second joint increase as rats approached the food. In an operant task, we observed fast ramps in CIN activity during approach behaviors, either to start the trial or to collect rewards. These CIN ramps co-occurred with DA release ramps, without corresponding changes in the firing of lateral VTA DA neurons. Finally, we examined the effects of blocking CIN influence over DA release through local NAc infusion of DHβE, a selective antagonist of β2* nicotinic receptors. DHβE dose-dependently interfered with motivated approach decisions, mimicking the effects of a DA antagonist. Our results support a key influence of CINs over motivated behavior via the local regulation of DA release.

Alpha bungarotoxin-1.4 nm gold: a novel conjugate for visualising the precise subcellular distribution of alpha 7* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Alpha 7 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (alpha7* nAChR) are involved in a variety of functions in the mammalian brain, including modulating neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. Identifying the precise cellular distribution of alpha7* nAChRs with respect to the local neurochemical environment is crucial to understanding these biological roles. Current strategies for localising alpha7* nAChRs at the subcellular level have limitations. Anti-alpha7 subunit antibodies detect both assembled and unassembled subunits whereas biotinylated alphabungarotoxin (alphaBgt) only binds to assembled alpha7* nAChRs, but interpretation of labelling is marred by co-detection of endogenous tissue biotin. To overcome these problems, we have characterised a novel 1.4 nm gold alphaBgt conjugate used to directly localise alpha7* nAChR. Gold conjugation does not significantly decrease binding affinity, and gold alphaBgt specifically labels alpha7* nAChR in both unfixed and aldehyde-fixed tissue at the light and electron microscope levels, labelling being abolished in the presence of excess competing toxin. At the ultrastructural level, gold alphaBgt is associated with neuronal membranes and located at axon-dendritic synapses in the rat hippocampus CA1 stratum radiatum. These results reveal gold alphaBgt to be a valuable new tool in elucidating the functional neuroanatomy of alpha7* nAChR in the central nervous system.