Dopamine D2 and acetylcholine α7 nicotinic receptors have subcellular distributions favoring mediation of convergent signaling in the mouse ventral tegmental area

• Published in: Neuroscience Vol. 252; pp. 126 - 143
• Main Authors: Garzón, M, Duffy, A.M, Chan, J, Lynch, M.-K, Mackie, K, Pickel, V.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 12.11.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: addiction; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor - ultrastructure; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Dopaminergic Neurons - metabolism; Dopaminergic Neurons - ultrastructure; electron microscopic immunolabeling; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Medical sciences; mesocorticolimbic; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Neurology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychoses; Receptors, Dopamine D2 - ultrastructure; Reward; Schizophrenia; Ventral Tegmental Area - metabolism; Ventral Tegmental Area - ultrastructure; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; ABC; VTA; MLA; ACh; α7nAChRs; phosphate buffer; phosphate-buffered saline; schizophrenia; BSA; NAc; Tris-buffered saline; nAChR; NMDA; nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; PBS; electron microscopic immunolabeling; reward; D 2R; alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors; Avidin–biotin complex; addiction; nucleus accumbens; N-methyl- d-aspartate receptor; methyllycaconitine; PB; ventral tegmental area; mesocorticolimbic; G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium; GIRK; acetylcholine; bovine serum albumin; dopamine D 2 receptor; TS; D2R; Dopamine; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Schizophrenia; Catecholamine; Encephalon; Psychosis; Signal transduction; Vertebrata; Cholinergic receptor; Mammalia; D2 Dopamine receptor; Mouse; Animal; Distribution; α7 nicotinic receptor; Neurotransmitter; Acetylcholine; Reward; Ventral tegmental area; DR; N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor; dopamine D receptor
• ISSN: 0306-4522; 1873-7544
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.08.008

Highlights • The α7nACh and dopamine D2 receptors are co-expressed in VTA neurons. • D2 Rs in VTA are located presynaptic to dendrites containing the α7nAChR. • The α7nAChR and D2 R are also targeted to perisynaptic glia in the VTA. • Antipsychotic effects of nicotine and D2 R blockers may reflect multiple VTA sites.