Voluntary nicotine consumption triggers in vivo potentiation of cortical excitatory drives to midbrain dopaminergic neurons.
Active response to either natural or pharmacological reward causes synaptic modifications to excitatory synapses on dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Here, we examine these modifications using nicotine, the main addictive component of tobacco, which is a potent regulator of VTA DA neurons. Using an in vivo electrophysiological technique, we investigated the role of key components of the limbic circuit, the infralimbic cortex (ILCx) and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), in operant behaviors related to nicotine reward. Our results indicated that nicotine self-administration in rats, but not passive delivery, triggers hyperactivity of VTA DA neurons. The data suggest that potentiation of the ILCx-BNST excitatory pathway is involved in these modifications in VTA DA neurons. Thus, recruitment of these specific excitatory inputs to VTA DA neurons may be a neural correlate for the learned association between active responding and the reward experience.
Caillé
Stéphanie
S
Inserm U862, Neurocentre Magendie, Pathophysiology of Synaptic Plasticity Group, University of Bordeaux, and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 5227, Neuropsychopharmacology of Addiction Group, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. stephanie.garnier@u-bordeaux2.fr
Guillem
Karine
K
Cador
Martine
M
Manzoni
Olivier
O
Georges
François
F
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012646:Self Administration
D009538:Nicotine
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