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Nicotinic Cholinergic Receptors in VTA Glutamate Neurons Modulate Excitatory Transmission.

ABSTRACT: Ventral tegmental area (VTA) glutamate neurons are important components of reward circuitry, but whether they are subject to cholinergic modulation is unknown. To study this, we used molecular, physiological, and photostimulation techniques to examine nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in VTA glutamate neurons. Cells in the medial VTA, where glutamate neurons are enriched, are responsive to acetylcholine (ACh) released from cholinergic axons. VTA VGLUT2+ neurons express mRNA and protein subunits known to comprise heteromeric nAChRs. Electrophysiology, coupled with two-photon microscopy and laser flash photolysis of photoactivatable nicotine, was used to demonstrate nAChR functional activity in the somatodendritic subcellular compartment of VTA VGLUT2+ neurons. Finally, optogenetic isolation of intrinsic VTA glutamatergic microcircuits along with gene-editing techniques demonstrated that nicotine potently modulates excitatory transmission within the VTA via heteromeric nAChRs. These results indicate that VTA glutamate neurons are modulated by cholinergic mechanisms and participate in the cascade of physiological responses to nicotine exposure.

SUBMITTER: Yan Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5999341 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Nicotinic Cholinergic Receptors in VTA Glutamate Neurons Modulate Excitatory Transmission.

Yan Yijin Y Peng Can C Arvin Matthew C MC Jin Xiao-Tao XT Kim Veronica J VJ Ramsey Matthew D MD Wang Yong Y Banala Sambashiva S Wokosin David L DL McIntosh J Michael JM Lavis Luke D LD Drenan Ryan M RM

Cell reports 20180501 8

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) glutamate neurons are important components of reward circuitry, but whether they are subject to cholinergic modulation is unknown. To study this, we used molecular, physiological, and photostimulation techniques to examine nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in VTA glutamate neurons. Cells in the medial VTA, where glutamate neurons are enriched, are responsive to acetylcholine (ACh) released from cholinergic axons. VTA VGLUT2<sup>+</sup> neurons express mRNA a ...[more]

PMID: 29791835

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Project description:Alpha6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are primarily found in neurons of the midbrain dopaminergic (DA) system, suggesting these receptors are potentially involved in drug reward and dependence. Here, we report a novel effect that cocaine directly inhibits ?6N/?3C?2?3-nAChR (?6*-nAChRs) function. Human ?6*-nAChRs were heterologously expressed within cells of the SH-EP1 cell line for functional characterization. Mechanically dissociated DA neurons from mouse ventral tegmental area (VTA) were used as a model of presynaptic ?6*-nAChR activation since this method preserves terminal boutons. Patch-clamp recordings in whole-cell configuration were used to measure ?6*-nAChR function as well as evaluate the effects of cocaine. In SH-EP1 cells containing heterologously expressed human ?6*-nAChRs, cocaine inhibits nicotine-induced inward currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 30 ?M. Interestingly, in the presence of 30 ?M cocaine, the maximal current response of the nicotine concentration-response curve is reduced without changing nicotine's EC50 value, suggesting a noncompetitive mechanism. Furthermore, analysis of whole-cell current kinetics demonstrated that cocaine slows nAChR channel activation but accelerates whole-cell current decay time. Our findings demonstrate that cocaine-induced inhibition occurs solely with bath application, but not during intracellular administration, and this inhibition is not use-dependent. Additionally, in Xenopus oocytes, cocaine inhibits both ?6N/?3C?2?3-nAChRs and ?6M211L/?3IC?2?3-nCAhRs similarly, suggesting that cocaine may not act on the ?3 transmembrane domain of chimeric ?6N/?3C?2?3-nAChR. In mechanically isolated VTA DA neurons, cocaine abolishes ?6*-nAChR-mediated enhancement of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). Collectively, these studies provide the first evidence that cocaine directly inhibits the function of both heterologously and naturally expressed ?6*-nAChRs. These findings suggest that ?6*-nAChRs may provide a novel pharmacological target mediating the effects of cocaine and may underlie a novel mechanism of cocaine reward and dependence.

Dataset Information

Nicotinic Cholinergic Receptors in VTA Glutamate Neurons Modulate Excitatory Transmission.

Publications

Nicotinic Cholinergic Receptors in VTA Glutamate Neurons Modulate Excitatory Transmission.

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