Excitatory neuromodulator reduces dopamine release, enhancing prolactin secretion.
Hypothalamic dopamine neurons inhibit pituitary prolactin secretion. In this issue of Neuron, Lyons et al. provide evidence for a novel model, whereby the excitatory neuropeptide TRH depolarizes gap-junction-coupled dopamine neurons, leading to a shift in the population pattern of action potentials from phasic burst firing to regular tonic firing, hypothetically reducing dopamine release while increasing total spike number.
Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. anthony.vandenpol@yale.edu
Anthony N
AN
van den Pol
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin