Journal article
The Evolving Understanding of Dopamine Neurons in the Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area
Annual review of physiology, Vol.80(1), pp.219-241
02/10/2018
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-021317-121615
PMID: 28938084
Abstract
In recent years, the population of neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) has been examined at multiple levels. The results indicate that the projections, neurochemistry, and receptor and ion channel expression in this cell population vary widely. This review centers on the intrinsic properties and synaptic regulation that control the activity of dopamine neurons. Although all dopamine neurons fire action potentials in a pacemaker pattern in the absence of synaptic input, the intrinsic properties that underlie this activity differ considerably. Likewise, the transition into a burst/pause pattern results from combinations of intrinsic ion conductances, inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs that differ among this cell population. Finally, synaptic plasticity is a key regulator of the rate and pattern of activity in different groups of dopamine neurons. Through these fundamental properties, the activity of dopamine neurons is regulated and underlies the wide-ranging functions that have been attributed to dopamine.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Evolving Understanding of Dopamine Neurons in the Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area
- Creators
- Stephanie C Gantz - Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USAChristopher P Ford - Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USAHitoshi Morikawa - Department of Neuroscience and Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USAJohn T Williams - Vollum Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA; email: williamj@ohsu.edu
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Annual review of physiology, Vol.80(1), pp.219-241
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1146/annurev-physiol-021317-121615
- PMID
- 28938084
- ISSN
- 0066-4278
- eISSN
- 1545-1585
- Grant note
- R01 DA004523 / NIDA NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/10/2018
- Academic Unit
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984065470102771
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