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GABA neurons of the VTA drive conditioned place aversion.

ABSTRACT: Salient but aversive stimuli inhibit the majority of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and cause conditioned place aversion (CPA). The cellular mechanism underlying DA neuron inhibition has not been investigated and the causal link to behavior remains elusive. Here, we show that GABA neurons of the VTA inhibit DA neurons through neurotransmission at GABA(A) receptors. We also observe that GABA neurons increase their firing in response to a footshock and provide evidence that driving GABA neurons with optogenetic effectors is sufficient to affect behavior. Taken together, our data demonstrate that synaptic inhibition of DA neurons drives place aversion.

SUBMITTER: Tan KR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6690362 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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GABA neurons of the VTA drive conditioned place aversion.

Tan Kelly R KR Yvon Cédric C Turiault Marc M Mirzabekov Julie J JJ Doehner Jana J Labouèbe Gwenaël G Deisseroth Karl K Tye Kay M KM Lüscher Christian C

Neuron 20120321 6

Salient but aversive stimuli inhibit the majority of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and cause conditioned place aversion (CPA). The cellular mechanism underlying DA neuron inhibition has not been investigated and the causal link to behavior remains elusive. Here, we show that GABA neurons of the VTA inhibit DA neurons through neurotransmission at GABA(A) receptors. We also observe that GABA neurons increase their firing in response to a footshock and provide evidence t ...[more]

PMID: 22445344

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