title: Role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in regulating dopamine neuron activity.
abstract: Midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons play a central role in a wide range of behaviors, from attention and motivation to motor control and reinforcement. The release of DA is modulated by a number of factors, and its deregulation has been implicated in multiple psychiatric disorders, such as addiction. In particular, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are key modulators of DA cells. Nicotine, the main addictive component in tobacco, strongly interacts with these receptors in the midbrain DA systems, resulting in reinforcing effects that are at the core of tobacco addiction. nAChRs are virtually expressed on every cell of the DA system, both at pre-, post- and extra-synaptic locations. The complex issue of interpreting the role of the large portfolio of different nAChR subtypes expressed on ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) neurons, and especially their role in defining functional DAergic subpopulations, is far from being solved. In this review we will try to provide the reader with an integrative view of the nicotinic modulation of DA neurons and its influence at the cellular, systemic and behavioral levels (exploratory behavior), as well as its implication in the reinforcing effects of nicotine.
authors.affiliation: Université Pierre et Marie Curie, CNRS UMR 8246, INSERM U 1130, UPMC UM CR18, 75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: phfaure@snv.jussieu.fr.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faure
authors.affiliation: Université Pierre et Marie Curie, CNRS UMR 8246, INSERM U 1130, UPMC UM CR18, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tolu
authors.affiliation: Université Pierre et Marie Curie, CNRS UMR 8246, INSERM U 1130, UPMC UM CR18, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.affiliation: Université Pierre et Marie Curie, CNRS UMR 8246, INSERM U 1130, UPMC UM CR18, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Naudé
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000378:metabolism*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000502:physiology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: VTA; dopamine; nAChRs; nicotine; substantia nigra