Activation of neurotensin receptors in the prefrontal cortex stimulates midbrain dopamine cell firing.
The effects of medial prefrontal cortex microinjections of 3 nmol/0.5 microl of neurotensin-(1-13), the inactive fragment neurotensin-(1-8), or vehicle on the firing rate of midbrain dopamine neurons were studied in anesthetized rats. Twelve of 19 cells tested with neurotensin-(1-13) showed an average 20-25% increase in firing rate between 10 and 20 min after the injection. This effect was not mimicked by neurotensin-(1-8) (9 cells), nor by a control injection (10 cells) suggesting that it is mediated by high-affinity neurotensin receptors. These results suggest that activation of neurotensin receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex can modulate neural activity of a subpopulation of midbrain dopamine neurons.
Rompré
P P
PP
Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Sacré-Coeur, Département de Psychiatrie, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada. romppp@ere.umontreal.ca
Boye
S M
SM
Moisan
J
J
D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D051381:Rats; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin; D009496:Neurotensin; C041968:neurotensin (1-8); D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid; D004298:Dopamine