Extensive co-localization of neurotensin with dopamine in rat meso-cortico-frontal dopaminergic neurons.
In mammalian brain, dopaminergic (DA) cell bodies located in the ventral mesencephalon give rise to meso-cortical, meso-limbic and meso-striatal systems. Among these, the meso-cortical DA pathway is particularly involved in the processing of emotional and cognitive responses. We demonstrate that the rat meso-cortical neurons specifically contain, in addition to DA, another transmitter, Neurotensin. If this co-localization exists in man, it may provide an anatomical substratum for the biological theory of schizophrenia as well as an indication that potential anti-psychotic drugs which act differentially on the DA ascending transmissions can be developed.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016627:Oxidopamine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D009496:Neurotensin; D016627:Oxidopamine; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine