title: Pedunculopontine arousal system physiology-Effects of psychostimulant abuse.
abstract: This review describes the interactions between the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and the thalamocortical system. Experiments using modulators of cholinergic receptors in the PPN clarified its role on psychostimulant-induced locomotion. PPN activation was found to be involved in the animal's voluntary search for psychostimulants. Every PPN neuron is known to generate gamma band oscillations. Voltage-gated calcium channels are key elements in the generation and maintenance of gamma band activity of PPN neurons. Calcium channels are also key elements mediating psychostimulant-induced alterations in the thalamic targets of PPN output. Thus, the PPN is a key substrate for maintaining arousal and REM sleep, but also in modulating psychostimulant self-administration.
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Urbano
authors.affiliation: IFIBYNE-CONICET, ININFA-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bisagno
authors.affiliation: IFIBYNE-CONICET, ININFA-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Betina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: IFIBYNE-CONICET, ININFA-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celeste Rivero-Echeto
authors.affiliation: IFIBYNE-CONICET, ININFA-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Javier A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Muñiz
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Brennon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luster
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Stasia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Onofrio
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahaffey
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Rill
keywords: Amphetamine; Cocaine; Dopamine; Nicotine; P/Q-type calcium channels; T-type calcium channels