title: VTA dopamine neuron plasticity - the unusual suspects.
abstract: Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are involved in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions, ranging from motivated behaviours to substance use disorders. While many studies have shown that these neurons can express plasticity at excitatory and inhibitory synapses, little is known about how inhibitory inputs and glial activity shape the output of DA neurons and therefore, merit greater discussion. In this review, we will attempt to fill in a bit more of the puzzle, with a focus on inhibitory transmission and astrocyte function. We summarize the findings within the VTA as well as observations made in other brain regions that have important implications for plasticity in general and should be considered in the context of DA neuron plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.|Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Synaptic Plasticity Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.|Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D059330:GABAergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000502:physiology; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B
keywords: GABA; VTA; astrocyte; dopamine; inhibition; plasticity