1
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Bastos-Gonçalves R, Coimbra B, Rodrigues AJ. The mesopontine tegmentum in reward and aversion: From cellular heterogeneity to behaviour. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105702. [PMID: 38718986 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The mesopontine tegmentum, comprising the pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPN) and the laterodorsal tegmentum (LDT), is intricately connected to various regions of the basal ganglia, motor systems, and limbic systems. The PPN and LDT can regulate the activity of different brain regions of these target systems, and in this way are in a privileged position to modulate motivated behaviours. Despite recent findings, the PPN and LDT have been largely overlooked in discussions about the neural circuits associated with reward and aversion. This review aims to provide a timely and comprehensive resource on past and current research, highlighting the PPN and LDT's connectivity and influence on basal ganglia and limbic, and motor systems. Seminal studies, including lesion, pharmacological, and optogenetic/chemogenetic approaches, demonstrate their critical roles in modulating reward/aversive behaviours. The review emphasizes the need for further investigation into the associated cellular mechanisms, in order to clarify their role in behaviour and contribution for different neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Bastos-Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Coimbra
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Ana João Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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2
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Su JH, Hu YW, Yang Y, Li RY, Teng F, Li LX, Jin LJ. Dystonia and the pedunculopontine nucleus: Current evidences and potential mechanisms. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1065163. [PMID: 36504662 PMCID: PMC9727297 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1065163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Being a major component of the midbrain locomotion region, the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is known to have various connections with the basal ganglia, the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and motor regions of the brainstem and spinal cord. Functionally, the PPN is associated with muscle tone control and locomotion modulation, including motor initiation, rhythm and speed. In addition to its motor functions, the PPN also contribute to level of arousal, attention, memory and learning. Recent studies have revealed neuropathologic deficits in the PPN in both patients and animal models of dystonia, and deep brain stimulation of the PPN also showed alleviation of axial dystonia in patients of Parkinson's disease. These findings indicate that the PPN might play an important role in the development of dystonia. Moreover, with increasing preclinical evidences showed presence of dystonia-like behaviors, muscle tone changes, impaired cognitive functions and sleep following lesion or neuromodulation of the PPN, it is assumed that the pathological changes of the PPN might contribute to both motor and non-motor manifestations of dystonia. In this review, we aim to summarize the involvement of the PPN in dystonia based on the current preclinical and clinical evidences. Moreover, potential mechanisms for its contributions to the manifestation of dystonia is also discussed base on the dystonia-related basal ganglia-cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit, providing fundamental insight into the targeting of the PPN for the treatment of dystonia in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-hui Su
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Department of Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation, Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao-wen Hu
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruo-yu Li
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Teng
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li-xi Li
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling-jing Jin
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Department of Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation, Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Ling-jing Jin
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3
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Kourosh-Arami M, Gholami M, Alavi-Kakhki SS, Komaki A. Neural correlates and potential targets for the contribution of orexin to addiction in cortical and subcortical areas. Neuropeptides 2022; 95:102259. [PMID: 35714437 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2022.102259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The orexin (hypocretin) is one of the hypothalamic neuropeptides that plays a critical role in some behaviors including feeding, sleep, arousal, reward processing, and drug addiction. This variety of functions can be described by a united function for orexins in translating states of heightened motivation, for example during physiological requirement states or following exposure to reward opportunities, into planned goal-directed behaviors. An addicted state is characterized by robust activation of orexin neurons from the environment, which triggers downstream circuits to facilitate behavior directed towards obtaining the drug. Two orexin receptors 1 (OX1R) and 2 (OX2R) are widely distributed in the brain. Here, we will introduce and describe the cortical and subcortical brain areas involved in addictive-like behaviors and the impact of orexin on addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Kourosh-Arami
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Masoumeh Gholami
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
| | - Seyed Sajjad Alavi-Kakhki
- Student Research Committee, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Alireza Komaki
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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4
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Skvortsova V, Palminteri S, Buot A, Karachi C, Welter ML, Grabli D, Pessiglione M. A Causal Role for the Pedunculopontine Nucleus in Human Instrumental Learning. Curr Biol 2021; 31:943-954.e5. [PMID: 33352119 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A critical mechanism for maximizing reward is instrumental learning. In standard instrumental learning models, action values are updated on the basis of reward prediction errors (RPEs), defined as the discrepancy between expectations and outcomes. A wealth of evidence across species and experimental techniques has established that RPEs are signaled by midbrain dopamine neurons. However, the way dopamine neurons receive information about reward outcomes remains poorly understood. Recent animal studies suggest that the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), a small brainstem structure considered as a locomotor center, is sensitive to reward and sends excitatory projection to dopaminergic nuclei. Here, we examined the hypothesis that the PPN could contribute to reward learning in humans. To this aim, we leveraged a clinical protocol that assessed the therapeutic impact of PPN deep-brain stimulation (DBS) in three patients with Parkinson disease. PPN local field potentials (LFPs), recorded while patients performed an instrumental learning task, showed a specific response to reward outcomes in a low-frequency (alpha-beta) band. Moreover, PPN DBS selectively improved learning from rewards but not from punishments, a pattern that is typically observed following dopaminergic treatment. Computational analyses indicated that the effect of PPN DBS on instrumental learning was best captured by an increase in subjective reward sensitivity. Taken together, these results support a causal role for PPN-mediated reward signals in human instrumental learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilisa Skvortsova
- Motivation, Brain and Behavior (MBB) laboratory, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France; INSERM Unit 1127, CNRS Unit 7225, Sorbonne Universités (SU), Paris 75005, France; Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles, Département d'Etudes Cognitives, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris 75005, France; INSERM Unit 960, Université de Paris Sciences et Lettres (UP), 75005 Paris, France; Max Planck UCL Center for Computational Psychiatry and Aging, London WC1B 5EH, UK.
| | - Stefano Palminteri
- Motivation, Brain and Behavior (MBB) laboratory, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France; INSERM Unit 1127, CNRS Unit 7225, Sorbonne Universités (SU), Paris 75005, France; Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles, Département d'Etudes Cognitives, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris 75005, France; INSERM Unit 960, Université de Paris Sciences et Lettres (UP), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Anne Buot
- INSERM Unit 1127, CNRS Unit 7225, Sorbonne Universités (SU), Paris 75005, France; Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles, Département d'Etudes Cognitives, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris 75005, France; INSERM Unit 960, Université de Paris Sciences et Lettres (UP), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Carine Karachi
- INSERM Unit 1127, CNRS Unit 7225, Sorbonne Universités (SU), Paris 75005, France; Neurology and Neurosurgery department, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Marie-Laure Welter
- INSERM Unit 1127, CNRS Unit 7225, Sorbonne Universités (SU), Paris 75005, France; Neurophysiology Department, Hôpital Universitaire de Rouen, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - David Grabli
- INSERM Unit 1127, CNRS Unit 7225, Sorbonne Universités (SU), Paris 75005, France; Neurology and Neurosurgery department, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Mathias Pessiglione
- Motivation, Brain and Behavior (MBB) laboratory, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France; INSERM Unit 1127, CNRS Unit 7225, Sorbonne Universités (SU), Paris 75005, France.
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5
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Neurobiology of reward-related learning. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 124:224-234. [PMID: 33581225 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A major goal in psychology is to understand how environmental stimuli associated with primary rewards come to function as conditioned stimuli, acquiring the capacity to elicit similar responses to those elicited by primary rewards. Our neurobiological model is predicated on the Hebbian idea that concurrent synaptic activity on the primary reward neural substrate-proposed to be ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons-strengthens the synapses involved. We propose that VTA DA neurons receive both a strong unconditioned stimulus signal (acetylcholine stimulation of DA cells) from the primary reward capable of unconditionally activating DA cells and a weak stimulus signal (glutamate stimulation of DA cells) from the neutral stimulus. Through joint stimulation the weak signal is potentiated and capable of activating the VTA DA cells, eliciting a conditioned response. The learning occurs when this joint stimulation initiates intracellular second-messenger cascades resulting in enhanced glutamate-DA synapses. In this review we present evidence that led us to propose this model and the most recent evidence supporting it.
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6
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Sullivan JA, Dumont JR, Memar S, Skirzewski M, Wan J, Mofrad MH, Ansari HZ, Li Y, Muller L, Prado VF, Prado MAM, Saksida LM, Bussey TJ. New frontiers in translational research: Touchscreens, open science, and the mouse translational research accelerator platform. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 20:e12705. [PMID: 33009724 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases and other brain disorders are accompanied by impairments in high-level cognitive functions including memory, attention, motivation, and decision-making. Despite several decades of extensive research, neuroscience is little closer to discovering new treatments. Key impediments include the absence of validated and robust cognitive assessment tools for facilitating translation from animal models to humans. In this review, we describe a state-of-the-art platform poised to overcome these impediments and improve the success of translational research, the Mouse Translational Research Accelerator Platform (MouseTRAP), which is centered on the touchscreen cognitive testing system for rodents. It integrates touchscreen-based tests of high-level cognitive assessment with state-of-the art neurotechnology to record and manipulate molecular and circuit level activity in vivo in animal models during human-relevant cognitive performance. The platform also is integrated with two Open Science platforms designed to facilitate knowledge and data-sharing practices within the rodent touchscreen community, touchscreencognition.org and mousebytes.ca. Touchscreencognition.org includes the Wall, showcasing touchscreen news and publications, the Forum, for community discussion, and Training, which includes courses, videos, SOPs, and symposia. To get started, interested researchers simply create user accounts. We describe the origins of the touchscreen testing system, the novel lines of research it has facilitated, and its increasingly widespread use in translational research, which is attributable in part to knowledge-sharing efforts over the past decade. We then identify the unique features of MouseTRAP that stand to potentially revolutionize translational research, and describe new initiatives to partner with similar platforms such as McGill's M3 platform (m3platform.org).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A Sullivan
- Department of Philosophy, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Rotman Institute of Philosophy, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie R Dumont
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara Memar
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Miguel Skirzewski
- BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jinxia Wan
- Division of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Maryam H Mofrad
- Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Applied Mathematics, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Yulong Li
- Division of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lyle Muller
- Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Applied Mathematics, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vania F Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marco A M Prado
- Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa M Saksida
- Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Timothy J Bussey
- Brain and Mind Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,BrainsCAN, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Ettaro R, Markovic T, Daniels D, MacLaren DA, Clark SD. Microinjection of urotensin II into the pedunculopontine tegmentum leads to an increase in the consumption of sweet tastants. Physiol Behav 2020; 215:112775. [PMID: 31843472 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPTg) plays a role in processing multiple sensory inputs and innervates brain regions associated with reward-related behaviors. The urotensin II receptor, activated by the urotensin II peptide (UII), is selectively expressed by the cholinergic neurons of the PPTg. Although the exact function of cholinergic neurons of the PPTg is unknown, they are thought to contribute to the perception of reward magnitude or salience detection. We hypothesized that the activation of PPTg cholinergic neurons would alter sensory processing across multiple modalities (ex. taste and hearing). Here we had three aims: first, determine if cholinergic activation is involved in consumption behavior of palatable solutions (sucrose). Second, if so, distinguish the impact of the caloric value by using saccharin, a zero calorie sweetener. Lastly, we tested the UII-mediated effects on perception of acoustic stimuli by measuring acoustic startle reflex (ASR). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally cannulated into the PPTg, then placed under food restriction lasting the entire consumption experiment (water ad lib.). Treatment consisted of a microinjection of either 1 μL of aCSF or 1 μL of 10 μM UII into the PPTg, and the rats were immediately given access to either sucrose or saccharin. For the remaining five days, rats were allowed one hour access per day to the same sweet solution without any further treatments. During the saccharin experiment rats were tested in a contact lickometer which recorded each individual lick to give insight into the microstructure of the consumption behavior. ASR testing consisted of a baseline (no treatment), treatment day, and two additional days (no treatment). Immediately following the microinjection of UII, consumption of both saccharin and sucrose increased compared to controls. This significant increase persisted for days after the single administration of UII, but there was no generalized arousal or increase in water consumption between testing sessions. The effects on ASR were not significant. Activating cholinergic PPTg neurons may lead to a miscalculation of the salience of external stimuli, implicating the importance of cholinergic input in modulating a variety of behaviors. The long-lasting effects seen after UII treatment support further research into the role of sensory processing on reward related-behaviors at the level of the PPTg cholinergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ettaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| | - Tamara Markovic
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| | - Derek Daniels
- Department of Psychology and the Center for Ingestive Behavior Research, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| | - Duncan Aa MacLaren
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| | - Stewart D Clark
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
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Mantanona CP, Alsiö J, Elson JL, Fisher BM, Dalley JW, Bussey T, Pienaar IS. Altered motor, anxiety-related and attentional task performance at baseline associate with multiple gene copies of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter and related protein overexpression in ChAT::Cre+ rats. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:3095-3116. [PMID: 31506825 PMCID: PMC6875150 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01957-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic rodents expressing Cre recombinase cell specifically are used for exploring mechanisms regulating behavior, including those mediated by cholinergic signaling. However, it was recently reported that transgenic mice overexpressing a bacterial artificial chromosome containing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene, for synthesizing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, present with multiple vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) gene copies, resulting in altered cholinergic tone and accompanying behavioral abnormalities. Since ChAT::Cre+ rats, used increasingly for understanding the biological basis of CNS disorders, utilize the mouse ChAT promotor to control Cre recombinase expression, we assessed for similar genotypical and phenotypical differences in such rats compared to wild-type siblings. The rats were assessed for mouse VAChT copy number, VAChT protein expression levels and for sustained attention, response control and anxiety. Rats were also subjected to a contextual fear conditioning paradigm using an unconditional fear-inducing stimulus (electrical foot shocks), with blood samples taken at baseline, the fear acquisition phase and retention testing, for measuring blood plasma markers of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal gland (HPA)-axis activity. ChAT::Cre+ rats expressed multiple mouse VAChT gene copies, resulting in significantly higher VAChT protein expression, revealed anxiolytic behavior, hyperlocomotion and deficits in tasks requiring sustained attention. The HPA-axis was intact, with unaltered circulatory levels of acute stress-induced corticosterone, leptin and glucose. Our findings, therefore, reveal that in ChAT::Cre+ rats, VAChT overexpression associates with significant alterations of certain cognitive, motor and affective functions. Although highly useful as an experimental tool, it is essential to consider the potential effects of altered cholinergic transmission on baseline behavior in ChAT::Cre rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig P Mantanona
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Johan Alsiö
- Department of Psychology, The Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK
| | - Joanna L Elson
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Beth M Fisher
- Department of Psychology, The Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jeffrey W Dalley
- Department of Psychology, The Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK
| | - Timothy Bussey
- Department of Psychology, The Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ilse S Pienaar
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9PH, UK.
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9
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Vitale F, Capozzo A, Mazzone P, Scarnati E. Neurophysiology of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus. Neurobiol Dis 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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10
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Extension of Reward-Attention Circuit Model: Alcohol’s Influence on Attentional Focus and Consequences on Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurocomputing 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neucom.2018.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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11
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Corre J, van Zessen R, Loureiro M, Patriarchi T, Tian L, Pascoli V, Lüscher C. Dopamine neurons projecting to medial shell of the nucleus accumbens drive heroin reinforcement. eLife 2018; 7:39945. [PMID: 30373717 PMCID: PMC6207421 DOI: 10.7554/elife.39945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The dopamine (DA) hypothesis posits the increase of mesolimbic dopamine levels as a defining commonality of addictive drugs, initially causing reinforcement, eventually leading to compulsive consumption. While much experimental evidence from psychostimulants supports this hypothesis, it has been challenged for opioid reinforcement. Here, we monitor genetically encoded DA and calcium indicators as well as cFos in mice to reveal that heroin activates DA neurons located in the medial part of the VTA, preferentially projecting to the medial shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Chemogenetic and optogenetic manipulations of VTA DA or GABA neurons establish a causal link to heroin reinforcement. Inhibition of DA neurons blocked heroin self-administration, while heroin inhibited optogenetic self-stimulation of DA neurons. Likewise, heroin occluded the self-inhibition of VTA GABA neurons. Together, these experiments support a model of disinhibition of a subset of VTA DA neurons in opioid reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Corre
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ruud van Zessen
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michaël Loureiro
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tommaso Patriarchi
- School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, California, United States
| | - Lin Tian
- School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, California, United States
| | - Vincent Pascoli
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christian Lüscher
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Service of Neurology, University of Geneva Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
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12
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Lalive AL, Lien AD, Roseberry TK, Donahue CH, Kreitzer AC. Motor thalamus supports striatum-driven reinforcement. eLife 2018; 7:34032. [PMID: 30295606 PMCID: PMC6181560 DOI: 10.7554/elife.34032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Reinforcement has long been thought to require striatal synaptic plasticity. Indeed, direct striatal manipulations such as self-stimulation of direct-pathway projection neurons (dMSNs) are sufficient to induce reinforcement within minutes. However, it’s unclear what role, if any, is played by downstream circuitry. Here, we used dMSN self-stimulation in mice as a model for striatum-driven reinforcement and mapped the underlying circuitry across multiple basal ganglia nuclei and output targets. We found that mimicking the effects of dMSN activation on downstream circuitry, through optogenetic suppression of basal ganglia output nucleus substantia nigra reticulata (SNr) or activation of SNr targets in the brainstem or thalamus, was also sufficient to drive rapid reinforcement. Remarkably, silencing motor thalamus—but not other selected targets of SNr—was the only manipulation that reduced dMSN-driven reinforcement. Together, these results point to an unexpected role for basal ganglia output to motor thalamus in striatum-driven reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas K Roseberry
- The Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, United States
| | | | - Anatol C Kreitzer
- The Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, United States.,Departments of Physiology and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, United States
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13
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French IT, Muthusamy KA. A Review of the Pedunculopontine Nucleus in Parkinson's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:99. [PMID: 29755338 PMCID: PMC5933166 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is situated in the upper pons in the dorsolateral portion of the ponto-mesencephalic tegmentum. Its main mass is positioned at the trochlear nucleus level, and is part of the mesenphalic locomotor region (MLR) in the upper brainstem. The human PPN is divided into two subnuclei, the pars compacta (PPNc) and pars dissipatus (PPNd), and constitutes both cholinergic and non-cholinergic neurons with afferent and efferent projections to the cerebral cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia (BG), cerebellum, and spinal cord. The BG controls locomotion and posture via GABAergic output of the substantia nigra pars reticulate (SNr). In PD patients, GABAergic BG output levels are abnormally increased, and gait disturbances are produced via abnormal increases in SNr-induced inhibition of the MLR. Since the PPN is vastly connected with the BG and the brainstem, dysfunction within these systems lead to advanced symptomatic progression in Parkinson's disease (PD), including sleep and cognitive issues. To date, the best treatment is to perform deep brain stimulation (DBS) on PD patients as outcomes have shown positive effects in ameliorating the debilitating symptoms of this disease by treating pathological circuitries within the parkinsonian brain. It is therefore important to address the challenges and develop this procedure to improve the quality of life of PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isobel T. French
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Galtieri DJ, Estep CM, Wokosin DL, Traynelis S, Surmeier DJ. Pedunculopontine glutamatergic neurons control spike patterning in substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. eLife 2017; 6:30352. [PMID: 28980939 PMCID: PMC5643088 DOI: 10.7554/elife.30352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Burst spiking in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopaminergic neurons is a key signaling event in the circuitry controlling goal-directed behavior. It is widely believed that this spiking mode depends upon an interaction between synaptic activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and intrinsic oscillatory mechanisms. However, the role of specific neural networks in burst generation has not been defined. To begin filling this gap, SNc glutamatergic synapses arising from pedunculopotine nucleus (PPN) neurons were characterized using optical and electrophysiological approaches. These synapses were localized exclusively on the soma and proximal dendrites, placing them in a good location to influence spike generation. Indeed, optogenetic stimulation of PPN axons reliably evoked spiking in SNc dopaminergic neurons. Moreover, burst stimulation of PPN axons was faithfully followed, even in the presence of NMDAR antagonists. Thus, PPN-evoked burst spiking of SNc dopaminergic neurons in vivo may not only be extrinsically triggered, but extrinsically patterned as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Galtieri
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
| | - Chad M Estep
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
| | - David L Wokosin
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
| | - Stephen Traynelis
- Department of Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, United States
| | - D James Surmeier
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
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15
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Activation of Pedunculopontine Glutamate Neurons Is Reinforcing. J Neurosci 2017; 37:38-46. [PMID: 28053028 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3082-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine transmission from midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons underlies behavioral processes related to motivation and drug addiction. The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) is a brainstem nucleus containing glutamate-, acetylcholine-, and GABA-releasing neurons with connections to basal ganglia and limbic brain regions. Here we investigated the role of PPTg glutamate neurons in reinforcement, with an emphasis on their projections to VTA dopamine neurons. We used cell-type-specific anterograde tracing and optogenetic methods to selectively label and manipulate glutamate projections from PPTg neurons in mice. We used anatomical, electrophysiological, and behavioral assays to determine their patterns of connectivity and ascribe functional roles in reinforcement. We found that photoactivation of PPTg glutamate cell bodies could serve as a direct positive reinforcer on intracranial self-photostimulation assays. Further, PPTg glutamate neurons directly innervate VTA; photostimulation of this pathway preferentially excites VTA dopamine neurons and is sufficient to induce behavioral reinforcement. These results demonstrate that ascending PPTg glutamate projections can drive motivated behavior, and PPTg to VTA synapses may represent an important target relevant to drug addiction and other mental health disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Uncovering brain circuits underlying reward-seeking is an important step toward understanding the circuit bases of drug addiction and other psychiatric disorders. The dopaminergic system emanating from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) plays a key role in regulating reward-seeking behaviors. We used optogenetics to demonstrate that the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus sends glutamatergic projections to VTA dopamine neurons, and that stimulation of this circuit promotes behavioral reinforcement. The findings support a critical role for pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus glutamate neurotransmission in modulating VTA dopamine neuron activity and behavioral reinforcement.
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Guimarães K, Madureira DQ, Madureira AL. The reward-attention circuit model: Nicotine’s influence on attentional focus and consequences on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Neurocomputing 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neucom.2017.02.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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17
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Hamani C, Aziz T, Bloem BR, Brown P, Chabardes S, Coyne T, Foote K, Garcia-Rill E, Hirsch EC, Lozano AM, Mazzone PAM, Okun MS, Hutchison W, Silburn P, Zrinzo L, Alam M, Goetz L, Pereira E, Rughani A, Thevathasan W, Moro E, Krauss JK. Pedunculopontine Nucleus Region Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson Disease: Surgical Anatomy and Terminology. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2016; 94:298-306. [PMID: 27723662 DOI: 10.1159/000449010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence over the last few years have been important in ascertaining that the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) region could be considered as a potential target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat freezing and other problems as part of a spectrum of gait disorders in Parkinson disease and other akinetic movement disorders. Since the introduction of PPN DBS, a variety of clinical studies have been published. Most indicate improvements in freezing and falls in patients who are severely affected by these problems. The results across patients, however, have been variable, perhaps reflecting patient selection, heterogeneity in target selection and differences in surgical methodology and stimulation settings. Here we outline both the accumulated knowledge and the domains of uncertainty in surgical anatomy and terminology. Specific topics were assigned to groups of experts, and this work was accumulated and reviewed by the executive committee of the working group. Areas of disagreement were discussed and modified accordingly until a consensus could be reached. We demonstrate that both the anatomy and the functional role of the PPN region need further study. The borders of the PPN and of adjacent nuclei differ when different brainstem atlases and atlas slices are compared. It is difficult to delineate precisely the PPN pars dissipata from the nucleus cuneiformis, as these structures partially overlap. This lack of clarity contributes to the difficulty in targeting and determining the exact localization of the electrodes implanted in patients with akinetic gait disorders. Future clinical studies need to consider these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement Hamani
- Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada
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Yau HJ, Wang DV, Tsou JH, Chuang YF, Chen BT, Deisseroth K, Ikemoto S, Bonci A. Pontomesencephalic Tegmental Afferents to VTA Non-dopamine Neurons Are Necessary for Appetitive Pavlovian Learning. Cell Rep 2016; 16:2699-2710. [PMID: 27568569 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) receives phenotypically distinct innervations from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg). While PPTg-to-VTA inputs are thought to play a critical role in stimulus-reward learning, direct evidence linking PPTg-to-VTA phenotypically distinct inputs in the learning process remains lacking. Here, we used optogenetic approaches to investigate the functional contribution of PPTg excitatory and inhibitory inputs to the VTA in appetitive Pavlovian conditioning. We show that photoinhibition of PPTg-to-VTA cholinergic or glutamatergic inputs during cue presentation dampens the development of anticipatory approach responding to the food receptacle during the cue. Furthermore, we employed in vivo optetrode recordings to show that photoinhibition of PPTg cholinergic or glutamatergic inputs significantly decreases VTA non-dopamine (non-DA) neural activity. Consistently, photoinhibition of VTA non-DA neurons disrupts the development of cue-elicited anticipatory approach responding. Taken together, our study reveals a crucial regulatory mechanism by PPTg excitatory inputs onto VTA non-DA neurons during appetitive Pavlovian conditioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hau-Jie Yau
- Synaptic Plasticity Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Dong V Wang
- Neurocircuitry of Motivation Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Jen-Hui Tsou
- Synaptic Plasticity Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Yi-Fang Chuang
- Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Billy T Chen
- Synaptic Plasticity Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Bioengineering and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Satoshi Ikemoto
- Neurocircuitry of Motivation Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Antonello Bonci
- Synaptic Plasticity Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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Strumpf H, Noesselt T, Schoenfeld MA, Voges J, Panther P, Kaufmann J, Heinze HJ, Hopf JM. Deep Brain Stimulation of the Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus (PPN) Influences Visual Contrast Sensitivity in Human Observers. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0155206. [PMID: 27167979 PMCID: PMC4864298 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The parapontine nucleus of the thalamus (PPN) is a neuromodulatory midbrain structure with widespread connectivity to cortical and subcortical motor structures, as well as the spinal cord. The PPN also projects to the thalamus, including visual relay nuclei like the LGN and the pulvinar. Moreover, there is intense connectivity with sensory structures of the tegmentum in particular with the superior colliculus (SC). Given the existence and abundance of projections to visual sensory structures, it is likely that activity in the PPN has some modulatory influence on visual sensory selection. Here we address this possibility by measuring the visual discrimination performance (luminance contrast thresholds) in a group of patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) treated with deep-brain stimulation (DBS) of the PPN to control gait and postural motor deficits. In each patient we measured the luminance-contrast threshold of being able to discriminate an orientation-target (Gabor-grating) as a function of stimulation frequency (high 60Hz, low 8/10, no stimulation). Thresholds were determined using a standard staircase-protocol that is based on parameter estimation by sequential testing (PEST). We observed that under low frequency stimulation thresholds increased relative to no and high frequency stimulation in five out of six patients, suggesting that DBS of the PPN has a frequency-dependent impact on visual selection processes at a rather elementary perceptual level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Toemme Noesselt
- Institute for Biological Psychology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mircea Ariel Schoenfeld
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Clinic for Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Kliniken Schmieder, Allensbach, Germany
| | - Jürgen Voges
- Clinic for Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Patricia Panther
- Clinic for Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Joern Kaufmann
- Clinic for Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Jochen Heinze
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Clinic for Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jens-Max Hopf
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Clinic for Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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20
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Oliva I, Wanat MJ. Ventral Tegmental Area Afferents and Drug-Dependent Behaviors. Front Psychiatry 2016; 7:30. [PMID: 27014097 PMCID: PMC4780106 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-related behaviors in both humans and rodents are commonly thought to arise from aberrant learning processes. Preclinical studies demonstrate that the acquisition and expression of many drug-dependent behaviors involves the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a midbrain structure comprised of dopamine, GABA, and glutamate neurons. Drug experience alters the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic input onto VTA dopamine neurons, suggesting a critical role for VTA afferents in mediating the effects of drugs. In this review, we present evidence implicating the VTA in drug-related behaviors, highlight the diversity of neuronal populations in the VTA, and discuss the behavioral effects of selectively manipulating VTA afferents. Future experiments are needed to determine which VTA afferents and what neuronal populations in the VTA mediate specific drug-dependent behaviors. Further studies are also necessary for identifying the afferent-specific synaptic alterations onto dopamine and non-dopamine neurons in the VTA following drug administration. The identification of neural circuits and adaptations involved with drug-dependent behaviors can highlight potential neural targets for pharmacological and deep brain stimulation interventions to treat substance abuse disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idaira Oliva
- Department of Biology, Neurosciences Institute, University of Texas at San Antonio , San Antonio, TX , USA
| | - Matthew J Wanat
- Department of Biology, Neurosciences Institute, University of Texas at San Antonio , San Antonio, TX , USA
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21
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Investigating complex basal ganglia circuitry in the regulation of motor behaviour, with particular focus on orofacial movement. Behav Pharmacol 2015; 26:18-32. [PMID: 25485640 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Current concepts of basal ganglia function have evolved from the essentially motoric, to include a range of extramotoric functions that involve not only dopaminergic but also cholinergic, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic and glutamatergic mechanisms. We consider these mechanisms and their efferent systems, including spiralling, feed-forward striato-nigro-striatal circuitry, involving the dorsal and ventral striatum and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core and shell. These processes are illustrated using three behavioural models: turning-pivoting, orofacial movements in rats and orofacial movements in genetically modified mice. Turning-pivoting indicates that dopamine-dependent behaviour elicited from the NAc shell is funnelled through the NAc-nigro-striato-nigro-pedunculopontine pathway, whereas acetylcholine-dependent behaviour elicited from the NAc shell is funnelled through the NAc-ventral pallidum-mediodorsal thalamus pathway. Cooperative/synergistic interactions between striatal D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptors regulate individual topographies of orofacial movements that are funnelled through striatal projection pathways and involve interactions with GABAergic and glutamatergic receptor subtypes. This application of concerted behavioural, neurochemical and neurophysiological techniques implicates a network that is yet broader and interacts with other neurotransmitters and neuropeptides within subcortical, cortical and brainstem regions to 'sculpt' aspects of behaviour into its topographical collective.
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22
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Wickham RJ, Solecki WB, Nunes EJ, Addy NA. Distinct effects of ventral tegmental area NMDA and acetylcholine receptor blockade on conditioned reinforcement produced by food-associated cues. Neuroscience 2015; 301:384-94. [PMID: 26093048 PMCID: PMC4510872 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Stimuli paired with rewards acquire reinforcing properties to promote reward-seeking behavior. Previous work supports the role of ventral tegmental area (VTA) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in mediating conditioned reinforcement elicited by drug-associated cues. However, it is not known whether these cholinergic mechanisms are specific to drug-associated cues or whether VTA cholinergic mechanisms also underlie the ability of cues paired with natural rewards to act as conditioned reinforcers. Burst firing of VTA dopamine (DA) neurons and the subsequent phasic DA release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays an important role in cue-mediated behavior and in the ability of cues to acquire reinforcing properties. In the VTA, both AChRs and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) regulate DA burst firing and phasic DA release. Here, we tested the role of VTA nAChRs, muscarinic AChRs (mAChRs), and NMDARs in the conditioned reinforcement elicited by a food-associated, natural reward cue. Subjects received 10 consecutive days of Pavlovian conditioning training where lever extension served as a predictive cue for food availability. On day 11, rats received bilateral VTA infusion of saline, AP-5 (0.1 or 1μg), mecamylamine (MEC: 3 or 30μg) or scopolamine (SCOP: 3 or 66.7μg) immediately prior to the conditioned reinforcement test. During the test, nosepoking into the active (conditioned reinforced, CR) noseport produced a lever cue while nosepoking on the inactive (non-conditioned reinforced, NCR) noseport had no consequence. AP-5 robustly attenuated conditioned reinforcement and blocked discrimination between CR and NCR noseports at the 1-μg dose. MEC infusion decreased responding for both CR and NCR while 66.7-μg SCOP disrupted the subject's ability to discriminate between CR and NCR. Together, our data suggest that VTA NMDARs and mAChRs, but not nAChRs, play a role in the ability of natural reward-associated cues to act as conditioned reinforcers.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Wickham
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - W B Solecki
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - E J Nunes
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - N A Addy
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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Hong S, Hikosaka O. Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus neurons provide reward, sensorimotor, and alerting signals to midbrain dopamine neurons. Neuroscience 2014; 282:139-55. [PMID: 25058502 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2014] [Revised: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) neurons in the midbrain are crucial for motivational control of behavior. However, recent studies suggest that signals transmitted by DA neurons are heterogeneous. This may reflect a wide range of inputs to DA neurons, but which signals are provided by which brain areas is still unclear. Here we focused on the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) in macaque monkeys and characterized its inputs to DA neurons. Since the PPTg projects to many brain areas, it is crucial to identify PPTg neurons that project to DA neuron areas. For this purpose we used antidromic activation technique by electrically stimulating three locations (medial, central, lateral) in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). We found SNc-projecting neurons mainly in the PPTg, and some in the cuneiform nucleus. Electrical stimulation in the SNc-projecting PPTg regions induced a burst of spikes in presumed DA neurons, suggesting that the PPTg-DA (SNc) connection is excitatory. Behavioral tasks and clinical tests showed that the SNc-projecting PPTg neurons encoded reward, sensorimotor and arousal/alerting signals. Importantly, reward-related PPTg neurons tended to project to the medial and central SNc, whereas sensorimotor/arousal/alerting-related PPTg neurons tended to project to the lateral SNc. Most reward-related signals were positively biased: excitation and inhibition when a better and worse reward was expected, respectively. These PPTg neurons tended to retain the reward value signal until after a reward outcome, representing 'value state'; this was different from DA neurons which show phasic signals representing 'value change'. Our data, together with previous studies, suggest that PPTg neurons send positive reward-related signals mainly to the medial-central SNc where DA neurons encode motivational values, and sensorimotor/arousal signals to the lateral SNc where DA neurons encode motivational salience.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hong
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 49 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - O Hikosaka
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 49 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Markou A, Salamone JD, Bussey TJ, Mar AC, Brunner D, Gilmour G, Balsam P. Measuring reinforcement learning and motivation constructs in experimental animals: relevance to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37:2149-65. [PMID: 23994273 PMCID: PMC3849135 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2013] [Revised: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 08/16/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The present review article summarizes and expands upon the discussions that were initiated during a meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (CNTRICS; http://cntrics.ucdavis.edu) meeting. A major goal of the CNTRICS meeting was to identify experimental procedures and measures that can be used in laboratory animals to assess psychological constructs that are related to the psychopathology of schizophrenia. The issues discussed in this review reflect the deliberations of the Motivation Working Group of the CNTRICS meeting, which included most of the authors of this article as well as additional participants. After receiving task nominations from the general research community, this working group was asked to identify experimental procedures in laboratory animals that can assess aspects of reinforcement learning and motivation that may be relevant for research on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as other disorders characterized by deficits in reinforcement learning and motivation. The tasks described here that assess reinforcement learning are the Autoshaping Task, Probabilistic Reward Learning Tasks, and the Response Bias Probabilistic Reward Task. The tasks described here that assess motivation are Outcome Devaluation and Contingency Degradation Tasks and Effort-Based Tasks. In addition to describing such methods and procedures, the present article provides a working vocabulary for research and theory in this field, as well as an industry perspective about how such tasks may be used in drug discovery. It is hoped that this review can aid investigators who are conducting research in this complex area, promote translational studies by highlighting shared research goals and fostering a common vocabulary across basic and clinical fields, and facilitate the development of medications for the treatment of symptoms mediated by reinforcement learning and motivational deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athina Markou
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, M/C0603, La Jolla, CA 92093-0603, USA.
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Horner AE, Heath CJ, Hvoslef-Eide M, Kent BA, Kim CH, Nilsson SRO, Alsiö J, Oomen CA, Holmes A, Saksida LM, Bussey TJ. The touchscreen operant platform for testing learning and memory in rats and mice. Nat Protoc 2013; 8:1961-84. [PMID: 24051959 PMCID: PMC3914026 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2013.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 274] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
An increasingly popular method of assessing cognitive functions in rodents is the automated touchscreen platform, on which a number of different cognitive tests can be run in a manner very similar to touchscreen methods currently used to test human subjects. This methodology is low stress (using appetitive rather than aversive reinforcement), has high translational potential and lends itself to a high degree of standardization and throughput. Applications include the study of cognition in rodent models of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, frontotemporal dementia), as well as the characterization of the role of select brain regions, neurotransmitter systems and genes in rodents. This protocol describes how to perform four touchscreen assays of learning and memory: visual discrimination, object-location paired-associates learning, visuomotor conditional learning and autoshaping. It is accompanied by two further protocols (also published in this issue) that use the touchscreen platform to assess executive function, working memory and pattern separation.
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26
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Tang WK, Chen YK, Liang HJ, Chu WCW, Mok VCT, Ungvari GS, Wong KS. Location of infarcts and apathy in ischemic stroke. Cerebrovasc Dis 2013; 35:566-71. [PMID: 23838825 DOI: 10.1159/000351152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apathy is common in stroke survivors. Unlike poststroke depression, apathy after stroke has not been extensively investigated and the significance of the location of infarcts in the development of apathy following a stroke is unknown. This study examined the association between poststroke apathy (PSA) and the location of infarcts. METHODS A cohort of 185 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Stroke Unit of a university-affiliated regional hospital in Hong Kong was recruited. Three months after the index stroke, a psychiatrist administered the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES). PSA was defined as an AES score of 37 or above. The presence and location of infarcts were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS Altogether 185 patients met the entry criteria and formed the study sample; 20 (10.8%) had PSA. PSA patients were older and had higher stroke severity and more depressive symptoms. The PSA group also had lower levels of physical and cognitive functioning. Compared with the non-PSA group, PSA patients were more likely to have acute pontine infarcts (35.0% vs. 11.5%; p = 0.011). They had a higher mean number (0.5 ± 0.7 vs. 0.1 ± 0.3; p = 0.003) and larger volume (0.6 ± 1.4 vs. 0.1 ± 0.3 ml; p = 0.002) of acute pontine infarcts. Six variables were entered into the predictive regression model: age, the presence, number and volume of acute pontine infarcts, the number of old infarcts and periventricular white matter hyperintensities scores. The volume of infarcts remained an independent predictor of PSA in the multivariate analysis, with an odds ratio of 3.9 (p = 0.007). The Geriatric Depression Scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Barthel Index and Mini-Mental State Examination scores were also entered into the subsequent associative regression model; the volume of acute pontine infarcts remained a significant predictor (odds ratio = 3.8). CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of an association between pontine infarcts and the risk of PSA. The results suggest that pontine infarcts may play a role in the development of PSA. The importance of acute pontine infarcts in the pathogenesis of PSA warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- W K Tang
- Department of Psychiatry,Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Blanco L, Yuste JE, Carrillo-de Sauvage MA, Gómez A, Fernández-Villalba E, Avilés-Olmos I, Limousin P, Zrinzo L, Herrero MT. Critical evaluation of the anatomical location of the Barrington nucleus: relevance for deep brain stimulation surgery of pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus. Neuroscience 2013; 247:351-63. [PMID: 23732233 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.05.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2013] [Revised: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become the standard surgical procedure for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently, the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPN) has emerged as a potential target for DBS in patients whose quality of life is compromised by freezing of gait and falls. To date, only a few groups have published their long-term clinical experience with PPN stimulation. Bearing in mind that the Barrington (Bar) nucleus and some adjacent nuclei (also known as the micturition centre) are close to the PPN and may be affected by DBS, the aim of the present study was to review the anatomical location of this structure in human and other species. To this end, the Bar nucleus area was analysed in mouse, monkey and human tissues, paying particular attention to the anatomical position in humans, where it has been largely overlooked. Results confirm that anatomical location renders the Bar nucleus susceptible to influence by the PPN DBS lead or to diffusion of electrical current. This may have an undesirable impact on the quality of life of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisette Blanco
- Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30071 Murcia, Spain
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Lima RH, Radiske A, Köhler CA, Gonzalez MC, Bevilaqua LR, Rossato JI, Medina JH, Cammarota M. Nicotine modulates the long-lasting storage of fear memory. Learn Mem 2013; 20:120-4. [PMID: 23418390 DOI: 10.1101/lm.029900.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Late post-training activation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA)-hippocampus dopaminergic loop controls the entry of information into long-term memory (LTM). Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) modulate VTA function, but their involvement in LTM storage is unknown. Using pharmacological and behavioral tools, we found that α7-nAChR-mediated cholinergic interactions between the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and the medial prefrontal cortex modulate the duration of fear-motivated memories, maybe by regulating the activation state of VTA-hippocampus dopamine connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón H Lima
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurobiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre 90610-000, Brazil
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Gut NK, Winn P. The Role of the Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus in Motor Disorders. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-301-1_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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The pedunculopontine nucleus as a target for deep brain stimulation. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2010; 118:1461-8. [PMID: 21194002 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-010-0547-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2010] [Accepted: 11/29/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is a brain stem locomotive center that is also involved in the processing of sensory and behavioral information. The PPN has been recently proposed as a potential target for the treatment of axial symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). To date, results of the first series of PD patients treated with PPN deep brain stimulation (DBS) have shown promising results. In this article, we review some of the basic aspects of the PPN as a target and the outcome of the recently published clinical trials.
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Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are required for the conditioned reinforcing properties of sucrose-associated cues. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2010; 212:321-8. [PMID: 20676610 PMCID: PMC3380446 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-1957-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2010] [Accepted: 07/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE We recently demonstrated that blocking specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) abolishes the conditioned reinforcing properties of ethanol-associated cues in rat, suggesting nAChRs as promising pharmacological targets for prevention of cue-induced relapse. OBJECTIVES The present study investigated the involvement of nAChR subtypes in the conditioned reinforcing properties of stimuli associated with a natural reward (sucrose). METHODS Water-deprived rats were trained to associate a tone + light stimulus (CS) with the presentation of a 0.1 M sucrose solution for 10 consecutive days. On the subsequent day, the animals were tested on the stringent acquisition of a new instrumental response with conditioned reinforcement, following a systemic injection of the nonselective nAChR antagonist mecamylamine (MEC) or the selective α7 and α6/α3β2β3* nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA). At testing, the rats were presented with two novel levers. Responding on the lever assigned as active (CR lever) resulted in a presentation of the CS alone, while pressing the inactive lever (NCR lever) had no programmed consequences. RESULTS Control animals pressed the CR lever significantly more than the NCR lever, demonstrating that the CR had acquired conditioned reinforcing properties. Systemic MEC as well as MLA reduced the CR lever responses to the same level as for the NCR lever. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate a role for the α7 and/or α6/α3β2β3* nAChRs in conditioned reinforcement to a natural reward and suggest neuronal nAChRs as common mediators of the impact of cues on incentive processes.
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Afferent-specific AMPA receptor subunit composition and regulation of synaptic plasticity in midbrain dopamine neurons by abused drugs. J Neurosci 2010; 30:7900-9. [PMID: 20534838 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1507-10.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons play a pivotal role in processing reward-related information and are involved in drug addiction and mental illness in humans. Information is conveyed to the VTA in large part by glutamatergic afferents that arise in various brain nuclei, including the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). Using a unique rat brain slice preparation, we found that PPN stimulation activates afferents targeting GluR2-containing AMPA receptors (AMPAR) on VTA DA neurons, and these afferents did not exhibit long-term depression (LTD). In contrast, activation of glutamate afferents onto the same DA neurons via stimulation within the VTA evoked EPSCs mediated by GluR2-lacking AMPARs that demonstrated LTD or EPSCs mediated by GluR2-containing AMPA receptors that did not express LTD. Twenty-four hours after single cocaine injections to rats, GluR2-lacking AMPARs were increased at both PPN and local VTA projections, and this permitted LTD expression in both pathways. Single injections with the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC), increased GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors and permitted LTD in only the PPN pathway, and these effects were prevented by in vivo pretreatment with the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist AM251. These results demonstrate that cocaine more globally increases GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors at all glutamate synapses on VTA dopamine neurons, whereas Delta(9)-THC selectively increased GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors at subcortical PPN synapses. This suggests that different abused drugs may exert influence over distinct sets of glutamatergic afferents to VTA DA neurons which may be associated with different reinforcing or addictive properties of these drugs.
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Bortolanza M, Wietzikoski EC, Boschen SL, Dombrowski PA, Latimer M, Maclaren DAA, Winn P, Da Cunha C. Functional disconnection of the substantia nigra pars compacta from the pedunculopontine nucleus impairs learning of a conditioned avoidance task. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2010; 94:229-39. [PMID: 20595069 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2010.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2010] [Revised: 05/17/2010] [Accepted: 05/26/2010] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) targets nuclei in the basal ganglia, including the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), in which neuronal loss occurs in Parkinson's disease, a condition in which patients show cognitive as well as motor disturbances. Partial loss and functional abnormalities of neurons in the PPTg are also associated with Parkinson's disease. We hypothesized that the interaction of PPTg and SNc might be important for cognitive impairments and so investigated whether disrupting the connections between the PPTg and SNc impaired learning of a conditioned avoidance response (CAR) by male Wistar rats. The following groups were tested: PPTg unilateral; SNc unilateral; PPTg-SNc ipsilateral (ipsilateral lesions in PPTg and SNc); PPTg-SNc contralateral (contralateral lesions in PPTg and SNc); sham lesions (of each type). SNc lesions were made with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine HCl (MPTP, 0.6micromol); PPTg lesions with ibotenate (24nmol). After recovery, all rats underwent 50-trial sessions of 2-way active avoidance conditioning for 3 consecutive days. Rats with unilateral lesions in PPTg or SNc learnt this, however rats with contralateral (but not ipsilateral) combined lesions in both structures presented no sign of learning. This effect was not likely to be due to sensorimotor impairment because lesions did not affect reaction time to the tone or footshock during conditioning. However, an increased number of non-responses were observed in the rats with contralateral lesions. The results support the hypothesis that a functional interaction between PPTg and SNc is needed for CAR learning and performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariza Bortolanza
- Laboratorio de Fisiologia e Farmacologia do Sistema Nervoso Central, Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Parana (UFPR), C.P. 19031, 81531-980 Curitiba, Brazil
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Good CH, Lupica CR. Properties of distinct ventral tegmental area synapses activated via pedunculopontine or ventral tegmental area stimulation in vitro. J Physiol 2009; 587:1233-47. [PMID: 19188251 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.164194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Anatomical studies indicate that synaptic inputs from many cortical and subcortical structures converge on neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Although in vitro electrophysiological studies have examined synaptic inputs to dopamine (DA) and non-DA neurons in the VTA, they have largely relied upon local electrical stimulation to activate these synapses. This provides little information regarding the distinct properties of synapses originating from different brain areas. Using whole-cell recordings in parasagittal rat brain slices that preserved subcortical axons from the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) to the VTA, we compared these synapses with those activated by intra-VTA stimulation. PPN-evoked currents demonstrated longer latencies than intra-VTA-evoked currents, and both VTA and PPN responses were mediated by GABA(A) and AMPA receptors. However, unlike VTA-evoked currents, PPN currents were exclusively mediated by glutamate in 25-40% of the VTA neurons. Consistent with a cholinergic projection from the PPN to the VTA, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) were activated by endogenous acetylcholine released during PPN, but not VTA, stimulation. This was seen as a reduction of PPN-evoked, and not VTA-evoked, synaptic currents by the alpha7-nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) and the agonist nicotine. The beta2-nAChR subunit antagonist dihydro-beta-erythroidine had no effect on VTA- or PPN-evoked synaptic currents. The effects of MLA on PPN-evoked currents were unchanged by the GABA(A) receptor blocker picrotoxin, indicating that alpha7-nAChRs presynaptically modulated glutamate and not GABA release. These differences in physiological and pharmacological properties demonstrate that ascending PPN and presumed descending inputs to VTA utilize distinct mechanisms to differentially modulate neuronal activity and encode cortical and subcortical information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron H Good
- Electrophysiology Research Section, Cellular Neurobiology Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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Jenkinson N, Nandi D, Muthusamy K, Ray NJ, Gregory R, Stein JF, Aziz TZ. Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the pedunculopontine nucleus. Mov Disord 2008; 24:319-28. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.22189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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Tomie A, Grimes KL, Pohorecky LA. Behavioral characteristics and neurobiological substrates shared by Pavlovian sign-tracking and drug abuse. BRAIN RESEARCH REVIEWS 2008; 58:121-35. [PMID: 18234349 PMCID: PMC2582385 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2007.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2007] [Revised: 11/07/2007] [Accepted: 12/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Drug abuse researchers have noted striking similarities between behaviors elicited by Pavlovian sign-tracking procedures and prominent symptoms of drug abuse. In Pavlovian sign-tracking procedures, repeated paired presentations of a small object (conditioned stimulus, CS) with a reward (unconditioned stimulus, US) elicits a conditioned response (CR) that typically consists of approaching the CS, contacting the CS, and expressing consummatory responses at the CS. Sign-tracking CR performance is poorly controlled and exhibits spontaneous recovery and long-term retention, effects that resemble relapse. Sign-tracking resembles psychomotor activation, a syndrome of behavioral responses evoked by addictive drugs, and the effects of sign-tracking on corticosterone levels and activation of dopamine pathways resemble the neurobiological effects of abused drugs. Finally, the neurobiological profile of individuals susceptible to sign-tracking resembles the pathophysiological profile of vulnerability to drug abuse, and vulnerability to sign-tracking predicts vulnerability to impulsive responding and alcohol self-administration. Implications of sign-tracking for models of drug addiction are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Tomie
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
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Rostron CL, Farquhar MJ, Latimer MP, Winn P. The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and the nucleus basalis magnocellularis: do both have a role in sustained attention? BMC Neurosci 2008; 9:16. [PMID: 18234074 PMCID: PMC2257968 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-9-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2007] [Accepted: 01/30/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is well established that nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NbM) lesions impair performance on tests of sustained attention. Previous work from this laboratory has also demonstrated that pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) lesioned rats make more omissions on a test of sustained attention, suggesting that it might also play a role in mediating this function. However, the results of the PPTg study were open to alternative interpretation. We aimed to resolve this by conducting a detailed analysis of the effects of damage to each brain region in the same sustained attention task used in our previous work. Rats were trained in the task before surgery and post-surgical testing examined performance in response to unpredictable light signals of 1500 ms and 4000 ms duration. Data for PPTg lesioned rats were compared to control rats, and rats with 192 IgG saporin infusions centred on the NbM. In addition to operant data, video data of rats' performance during the task were also analysed. RESULTS Both lesion groups omitted trials relative to controls but the effect was milder and transient in NbM rats. The number of omitted trials decreased in all groups when tested using the 4000 ms signal compared to the 1500 ms signal. This confirmed previous findings for PPTg lesioned rats. Detailed analysis revealed that the increase in omissions in PPTg rats was not a consequence of motor impairment. The video data (taken on selected days) showed reduced lever orientation in PPTg lesioned rats, coupled with an increase in unconditioned behaviours such as rearing and sniffing. In contrast NbM rats showed evidence of inadequate lever pressing. CONCLUSION The question addressed here is whether the PPTg and NbM both have a role in sustained attention. Rats bearing lesions of either structure showed deficits in the test used. However, we conclude that the most parsimonious explanation for the deficit observed in PPTg rats is inadequate response organization, rather than impairment in sustained attention. Furthermore the impairment observed in NbM lesioned rats included lever pressing difficulties in addition to impaired sustained attention. Unfortunately we could not link these deficits directly to cholinergic neuronal loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L Rostron
- Life Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK.
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Zhang Y, Yan J. Corticothalamic Feedback for Sound-Specific Plasticity of Auditory Thalamic Neurons Elicited by Tones Paired with Basal Forebrain Stimulation. Cereb Cortex 2008; 18:1521-8. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhm188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Löf E, Olausson P, deBejczy A, Stomberg R, McIntosh JM, Taylor JR, Söderpalm B. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the ventral tegmental area mediate the dopamine activating and reinforcing properties of ethanol cues. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2007; 195:333-43. [PMID: 17703283 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-007-0899-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2007] [Accepted: 07/11/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Cues associated with alcohol can elicit craving, support drug-seeking and precipitate relapse. OBJECTIVES We investigated the possible involvement of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the conditioned reinforcing properties of ethanol-associated stimuli in the rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS First, using in vivo microdialysis, we analyzed the effect of VTA perfusion of the nonselective nAChR antagonist mecamylamine (MEC) or the selective alpha4beta2* nAChR antagonist dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHbetaE) on the nucleus accumbens (nAc) dopaminergic response to the presentation of an ethanol-associated conditioned stimulus (CS). Second, rats were trained to associate a tone+light CS with the presentation of 10% ethanol and were subsequently tested on the acquisition of a new instrumental response with conditioned reinforcement (CR) after local VTA infusion of MEC, DHbetaE, or alpha-Conotoxin MII (alpha-CtxMII, a selective alpha3beta2* and alpha6* nAChR antagonist). RESULTS The ethanol-associated CS elevated nAc dopamine, an effect that was blocked by VTA perfusion of MEC but not DHbetaE. Systemic administration of MEC or local VTA infusion of MEC or alpha-CtxMII selectively blocked ethanol-associated CR, whereas systemic DHbetaE had no effect. CONCLUSIONS We hypothesize a novel mechanism by which alcohol-associated cues promote drug-seeking behavior via activation of dopamine-stimulating alpha-CtxMII-sensitive nAChRs in the VTA. Pharmacological manipulations of selective nAChRs may thus be possible treatment strategies to prevent cue-induced relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin Löf
- Inst. Neuroscience and Physiology, Sect. Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University and Beroendekliniken, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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An assessment of the contributions of the pedunculopontine tegmental and cuneiform nuclei to anxiety and neophobia. Neuroscience 2007; 150:273-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2007] [Revised: 08/22/2007] [Accepted: 09/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Nelson CL, Wetter JB, Milovanovic M, Wolf ME. The laterodorsal tegmentum contributes to behavioral sensitization to amphetamine. Neuroscience 2007; 146:41-9. [PMID: 17321058 PMCID: PMC2040044 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2006] [Revised: 11/22/2006] [Accepted: 01/09/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A critical event in the development of behavioral sensitization is a transient increase in excitatory drive to dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This is likely to be due, in part, to the ability of drugs of abuse to produce long-term potentiation, expressed as increased AMPA receptor transmission, at excitatory synapses onto VTA dopamine neurons. We investigated the role of the laterodorsal tegmentum (LDT) in behavioral sensitization because LDT neurons provide an important source of excitatory drive to VTA dopamine neurons, through mixed glutamate and cholinergic inputs. To test the role of the LDT in amphetamine sensitization, ibotenic acid or sham lesions of the LDT were performed 1 week before the first of six daily amphetamine injections. When challenged with amphetamine 13 days after the last injection, sham rats expressed sensitization of stereotypy and post-stereotypy locomotor hyperactivity, whereas the latter was attenuated by ibotenic acid lesions of the LDT. To determine whether plasticity occurs in the LDT during amphetamine sensitization, we used a previously developed microdialysis assay in which increased ability of AMPA to activate a pathway serves as a marker for long-term potentiation. Two days after discontinuing repeated saline or amphetamine injections, the responsiveness of LDT-VTA neurons to AMPA was determined by microinjecting AMPA (0.4 nmol) into the LDT and measuring glutamate efflux in the ipsilateral VTA. Glutamate efflux was transiently increased in both groups but a delayed group difference was apparent with relatively higher glutamate efflux in amphetamine rats 30-60 min after AMPA injection. In parallel experiments, dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) following intra-LDT AMPA declined in saline rats but remained relatively stable in amphetamine rats. Both results suggest relatively greater excitability of the LDT-VTA-NAc pathway after repeated amphetamine treatment. Our results provide the first evidence that neuronal plasticity in the LDT contributes to behavioral sensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Nelson
- Department of Neuroscience, The Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064-3095, USA
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Abstract
Behavioral habits are essential to human and animal life. We consider the many ways that habits - which are normally adaptive - can be expressed as drug use behavior and addiction. Although habit theories of substance use disorders have been proposed (e.g., Tiffany, 1990), the behavioral science and underlying neurobiology of habit development, maintenance, and change is only now being studied. We first define "adapted habit." We then propose that the etiology of an adapted habit represents the combination of: (a) initial "capture" of a habit, (b) development of behavioral action schemata, and (c) an overlay of cognitive expectancies concerning aspects of the habit. This combination conspires to make an intractable adapted habit such as substance abuse and addiction. Many intractable habits change, including substance use disorders such as cigarette smoking. As part of a science of habits, we need a real understanding of how to change habits to avoid or minimize harm.
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Winn P. How best to consider the structure and function of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus: Evidence from animal studies. J Neurol Sci 2006; 248:234-50. [PMID: 16765383 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2006.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
This review presents the hypothesis that the best way to consider the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus is by analogy with the substantia nigra. The substantia nigra contains two main compartments: the pars compacta and the pars reticulata. The former contains dopamine neurons that project widely within the basal ganglia while the latter is in receipt of corticostriatal output. Similarly, the PPTg contains the Ch5 acetylcholine containing neurons that project to the thalamus and corticostriatal systems (notably the pars compacta of substantia nigra and the subthalamic nucleus) while the non-cholinergic neurons of the pedunculopontine are in receipt of corticostriatal output. Assessment of the location, composition and connections of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus is made to support the hypothesis that it has structural similarities with substantia nigra. Assessment of the motor, sensory and cognitive functions of the pedunculopontine is also made, suggesting functional similarities exist also. Having a clear model of pedunculopontine structure and function is a matter of some importance. It is clearly involved in Parkinson's disease and could potentially be a target for therapeutic intervention. If this is to be realized it will be best to have as clear an understanding as possible of pedunculopontine structure and function in order to maximize positive benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Winn
- School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, United Kingdom.
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Steiniger-Brach B, Kretschmer BD. Different function of pedunculopontine GABA and glutamate receptors in nucleus accumbens dopamine, pedunculopontine glutamate and operant discriminative behavior. Eur J Neurosci 2005; 22:1720-30. [PMID: 16197512 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04361.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens, as the main input structure of the ventral basal ganglia loop, is described as a limbic-motor interface. Dopamine input to nucleus accumbens modulates processing of concurrent glutamate input from limbic structures carrying motor and motivational information. There is evidence that these dopamine/glutamate interactions are fundamentally involved in response selection processes. However, the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) in the brainstem is connected with limbic structures as well as dopaminergic midbrain areas, which also project to the nucleus accumbens. Furthermore, behavioral studies implicate the PPTg in complex, motivated behavior. Thus, the PPTg might be involved in motivated behavior by influencing response selection processes in the nucleus accumbens. In this study we used in vivo microdialysis in freely moving rats in order to inhibit (100, 200, 300 and 400 microm baclofen) or stimulate [5, 12.5, 25 or 50 micromalpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)] the PPTg in animals that are performing an operant discrimination task for food reward. The behavioral consequences were correlated with dopamine and glutamate levels in nucleus accumbens and PPTg, respectively. PPTg inhibition by local GABAB receptors impaired the response rate and accuracy of performance in the operant discrimination task. PPTg stimulation by local AMPA receptors exclusively impaired the response rate. Both treatments blocked the performance-driven dopamine signal in nucleus accumbens, whereas glutamate in PPTg was enhanced after AMPA administration only. The data indicate that the PPTg functionally participates in a network of subcortical and cortical structures, which is responsible for the execution of motivated behavior and response selection processes.
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Pan WX, Hyland BI. Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus controls conditioned responses of midbrain dopamine neurons in behaving rats. J Neurosci 2005; 25:4725-32. [PMID: 15888648 PMCID: PMC6724780 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0277-05.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2005] [Revised: 03/13/2005] [Accepted: 04/06/2005] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons respond to sensory cues that predict reward. We tested the hypothesis that projections from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) are involved in driving this DA cell activity. First, the activity of PPTg and DA neurons was compared in a cued-reward associative learning paradigm. The majority of PPTg neurons showed phasic responses to the onset of sensory cues, at significantly shorter latency than DA cells, consistent with a PPTg-to-DA transmission of information. However, unlike DA cells, PPTg responses were almost entirely independent of whether signals were associated with rewards. Second, DA neuron responses to the cues were recorded in free-moving rats during reversible inactivation of the PPTg by microinfusion of local anesthetic. The results showed clear suppression of conditioned sensory responses of DA neurons after PPTg inactivation that was not seen after saline infusion or in non-DA cells. We propose that the PPTg relays information about the precise timing of attended sensory events, which is integrated with information about reward context by DA neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Xing Pan
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
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Diederich K, Koch M. Role of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus in sensorimotor gating and reward-related behavior in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2005; 179:402-8. [PMID: 15821954 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-004-2052-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2004] [Accepted: 09/24/2004] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) is involved in the execution and regulation of a variety of behaviors. Most investigations used brain lesions that have certain disadvantages, such as functional compensation over time. OBJECTIVES In the present study, we investigated by temporary, reversible inhibition of neurons the role of the PPTg in sensorimotor gating, measured as prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response (ASR) using variable interstimulus intervals (ISI). In a second set of experiments we examined by the same technique the role of the PPTg in a progressive-ratio instrumental response task. METHODS Local infusions of the GABA(A)-receptor agonist muscimol (0.05 microg and 0.5 microg/0.3 microl, or vehicle) were applied through indwelling microinfusion cannulae into the PPTg of freely moving rats. ASR and PPI were measured using acoustic stimuli of 100 dB (pulse) and 80 dB (prepulse) using ISIs of 25, 120, 520 and 1,020 ms. Instrumental behavior (lever pressing for casein pellets) was assessed in a Skinner box. Motor activity was measured in an open field. RESULTS Intra-PPTg infusions of muscimol dose-dependently attenuated PPI at ISIs of 120 ms and 520 ms, but not at longer or shorter ISIs. ASR magnitude in pulse-alone trials was not significantly affected. Intra-PPTg infusion of 0.5 microg muscimol reduced the break point of instrumental responding (testing sequence where the rats fail to respond according to an increased ratio of reinforcement). No effects on food-preference and open-field activity were found. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that GABAergic neurotransmission in the PPTg plays an important role for sensorimotor gating at intermediate ISIs and for response selection under demanding schedules of reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Diederich
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Brain Research Institute, University of Bremen, FB 2, PO Box 33 04 40, 28334 Bremen, Germany.
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Pedunculopontine nucleus and basal ganglia: distant relatives or part of the same family? Trends Neurosci 2004; 27:585-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2004.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Kenny PJ, Koob GF, Markou A. Conditioned facilitation of brain reward function after repeated cocaine administration. Behav Neurosci 2004; 117:1103-7. [PMID: 14570559 DOI: 10.1037/0735-7044.117.5.1103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine lowers brain reward thresholds, reflecting increased brain reward function. The authors investigated whether, similar to acute cocaine administration, cocaine-predictive conditioned stimuli would lower intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) thresholds. Rats received a saline injection for 5 days, a cocaine injection (10 mg/kg) for 20 consecutive days, then saline for 5 additional days. Thresholds were measured immediately before and 10 min after each injection. The initial 5 saline injections had no effect on thresholds, whereas cocaine significantly lowered thresholds for 20 days. There was no tolerance or sensitization to this effect of cocaine over days. During the last 5 days when cocaine administration was substituted with saline, rats demonstrated a conditioned lowering of thresholds during the 2nd daily ICSS session. These data demonstrate that cocaine-predictive conditioned stimuli induce a conditioned facilitation of brain reward function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Kenny
- Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Ikeda H, Akiyama G, Matsuzaki S, Sato M, Koshikawa N, Cools AR. Gabaa receptors in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus play a crucial role in rat shell-specific dopamine-mediated, but not shell-specific acetylcholine-mediated, turning behaviour. Neuroscience 2004; 125:553-62. [PMID: 15099669 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The role of GABA(A) receptors in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus in turning behaviour of rats was studied. Unilateral injection of the GABA(A) receptor agonist, muscimol (25-100 ng), into the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus dose-dependently produced contraversive pivoting, namely tight head-to-tail turning marked by abnormal hindlimb backward stepping. This effect was GABA(A) receptor specific, since it was prevented by the GABA(A) receptor antagonist, bicuculline (50 ng), which alone did not elicit turning behaviour. Unilateral injection of a mixture of dopamine D(1) ((+/-)-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine-7,8-diol [SKF 38393], 5 microg) and D(2) (quinpirole, 10 microg) receptor agonists into the nucleus accumbens shell has been found to elicit contraversive pivoting, whilst unilateral injection of the acetylcholine receptor agonist (carbachol, 5 microg) into the same site is known to elicit contraversive circling, namely turning marked by normal stepping. The pivoting induced by a mixture of SKF 38393 (5 microg) and quinpirole (10 microg) injected into the nucleus accumbens shell was significantly inhibited by bicuculline (50 ng) injected into the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, whereas muscimol (25 ng) had no effect. Neither muscimol (25 ng) nor bicuculline (50 ng) modulated the contraversive circling induced by carbachol (5 microg) injected into the nucleus accumbens shell. It is therefore concluded that unilateral stimulation of GABA(A) receptors in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus can elicit contraversive pivoting and that the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus is one of the output stations of the accumbens region that mediates shell-specific, dopaminergic pivoting, but not of the accumbens region that mediates shell-specific, cholinergic circling.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Ikeda
- Department of Pharmacology, Nihon University School of Dentistry, 1-8-13 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8310, Japan
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Steiniger B, Kretschmer BD. Glutamate and GABA modulate dopamine in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus. Exp Brain Res 2003; 149:422-30. [PMID: 12677322 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-003-1382-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2002] [Accepted: 12/23/2002] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) has an important anatomical position connecting basal ganglia and limbic systems with motor execution structures in the pons and spinal cord. It receives glutamatergic and GABAergic input and has additional reciprocal connections with mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, suggesting that the PPTg plays a key role in frontostriatal information processing. In vivo microdialysis in freely moving rats, in combination with behavioral analysis, was used in this study to investigate whether the dopaminergic input can be modulated at the level of the PPTg via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) or GABA(B) receptors. Stimulation of the GABA(B) receptor decreased dopamine release in the PPTg while that of the AMPA and NMDA receptors increased it. A time-related comparison of the effects of NMDA (0.75 and 1 mM) and AMPA (50 and 25 microM) revealed a more long-lasting effect after AMPA stimulation than after NMDA. However, only the infusion of the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen (100 and 200 microM) stimulated stereotyped behavior (e.g. sniffing, digging or head movements) and contralateral circling. This study clearly demonstrates that GABAergic as well as glutamatergic terminals in the PPTg are critically involved in the modulation of the dopamine system. Moreover, a decrease in PPTg dopamine via GABA(B) receptor stimulation seems to be behaviorally relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Steiniger
- Department of Neuropharmacology, University of Tübingen, Mohlstr 54/1, 72074 Tübingen, Germany.
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