海洛因成瘾模型建立及中脑腹侧被盖区Bax的表达

目的探索海洛因对中脑腹侧被盖区细胞Bax表达的影响。方法肌肉注射海洛因,建立成瘾大鼠模型,用免疫组化方法检测中脑腹侧被盖区细胞Bax的表达。结果连续给大鼠注射海洛因7d后,大鼠出现明显的戒断症状;中脑腹侧被盖区细胞Bax表达阳性细胞比对照组明显增多,与对照组相比差异有显著性（P〈0.01）。结论海洛因具有诱导Bax基因表达、损伤脑组织细胞的作用。     

腹侧被盖区DA神经元调节睡眠—觉醒机制的探讨

本实验观察了微量注射γ－氨基丁酸（ＧＡＢＡ）和５－羟色胺（５－ＨＴ）于大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区（ＶＴＡ）对该部位多巴胺神经元活动的调节及其对睡眠觉醒的影响。实验观察到：ＶＴＡ注射ＧＡＢＡ（２５μｇ）和５－ＨＴ（２μｇ）,伏隔核（Ａｃｂ）内多巴胺（ＤＡ）代谢产物－双羟苯乙酸（ＤＯＰＡＣ）分别降低到注射前的６８．２％（Ｐ〈０．０１）和升高到１３６．１％（Ｐ〈０．０１）,并相应减少和增加觉醒。双侧Ａｃｂ注射Ｄ     

大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区在睡眠—觉醒调节中的作用

本实验在３１只清醒自由行动的雄性ＳＤ大鼠进行。结果如下：（１）以侧中脑腹侧被盖区（ＶＴＡ）微量注射３．３ｎｍｏｌ溴亭后第２－３ｈ觉醒时间显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）;６．６ｎｍｏｌ溴隐亭有类似效果;０．６６和１．３３ｎｍｏｌ溴隐亭无明显作用。（２）同样方法ＶＴＡ微量注射２ｎｍｏｌ和４ｎｍｏｌＳＣＨ２３３９０后第２－３ｈ觉醒时间明显减少（分别为Ｐ＜０．０１和Ｐ＜０．０５）,但注射３．４ｎｍｏｌ舒必利则无     

帕金森病大鼠模型中脑腹侧被盖区多巴胺能神经元改变及c-Jun蛋白表达

目的探讨帕金森病(Parkinson disease,PD)大鼠模型中脑腹侧被盖区(ventral tegmental area,VTA)多巴胺能神经元的改变及其c-Jun蛋白表达情况,探讨其可能机制。方法应用6-羟基多巴胺(6-hydroxydopamine,6-OHDA)单侧一点注射大鼠黑质致密区(substantia nigra compacta,SNc),特异性毁损DA能神经元;术后1d、7d、14d、21d腹腔注射阿朴吗啡(apomorphine,APO)诱发行为学观察、电镜、尼氏染色观察中脑VTA神经元的改变,免疫组织化学ABC观察其DA能神经元酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase,TH)及c-Jun的改变并进行图像分析,Western blot观察c-Jun蛋白表达。结果APO诱发PD大鼠模型异常旋转行为,尼氏染色及电镜见PD大鼠中脑VTA有神经细胞肿胀、坏死等变化,VTA TH阳性(TH )神经元数量减少,形态学改变。APO诱导的旋转实验≥7转/min,VTA毁损侧c-Jun表达。结论中脑VTA DA能神经参与PD模型大鼠的改变;APO能诱导6-OHDA PD模型大鼠的旋转行为,其强弱可能与TH 神经元数量直接相关;c-Jun表达与DA能神经元毁损程度有一定的关系。     

食物成瘾及其神经环路调控机制

食物成瘾是指人们对某些特定食物（高度加工、可口、高热量的食物）的依赖性达到难以控制的程度,并表现出一系列成瘾样的行为学变化,具有强迫性、长期性和反复性的特点。食物成瘾可引起肥胖症,而且是大部分人不能维持减肥效果或坚持限制性饮食以保持健康体重的核心因素。深入理解食物成瘾及其神经生物学机制,将为干预食物成瘾以改善肥胖提供准确的靶点。食物成瘾的诊断标准是耶鲁大学食物成瘾量表,而食物成瘾的动物模型为小鼠食物自我管理模型。外侧下丘脑-腹侧被盖区-伏隔核神经环路、腹侧被盖区-前边缘皮质-伏隔核神经环路和外侧隔核-结节核神经环路是调控食物成瘾的关键神经环路机制。     

脑腹侧被盖区微量注射溴隐亭对伏隔核DOPAC含量的影响

本工作在戊巴比妥钠麻醉的ＳＤ雄性大鼠上进行。结果表明：左侧腹侧被盖区（ＶＴＡ）微量注射多巴胺（ＤＡ）受体激动剂溴隐亭（２．５μｇ／０．５μｌ,ｎ－５）后,用微分脉冲伏安法（ＤＰＶ）测定同侧伏隔核中多巴胺代射产物—３、４双羟苯乙酸（ＤＯＰＡＣ）,峰值明显增高,注生５０ｍｉｎ达到对照值的１２８％（Ｐ＜０．０１）,注后８０ｍｉｎ达到最高峰,为对照值的１４３％（Ｐ＜０．０１）,作用的持续时间约２ｈ,在注后     

中脑腹侧被盖区向岛叶的上行投射通路参与慢性痛信息传递和调控的研究进展

中脑腹侧被盖区(VTA)及岛叶(IC)在疼痛中发挥重要作用。急性疼痛刺激信息可以快速调节VTA中的多巴胺(DA)神经元的活性,而持续的慢性痛刺激能降低VTA内DA能神经元的兴奋性。IC前部(AI)和后部(PI)分别与痛情绪的形成和痛信息的感受有关。慢性痛状态下IC会发生可塑性变化,出现突触传递的长时程增强(LTP)效应。VTAIC上行DA能神经通路可能直接参与人或动物的痛信息的传递和调控。对VTA-IC上行DA能神经通路的研究可能为慢性痛的临床治疗提供新的靶点。     

中脑腹侧被盖区微量注射溴隐亭对伏隔核DOPAC含量的影响

本工作在戊巴比妥钠麻醉的SD雄性大鼠上进行。结果表明:左侧腹侧被盖区(VTA)微量注射多巴胺(DA)受体激动剂溴隐亭(2.5μg/0.5μl,n=5)后,用微分脉冲伏安法(DPV)测定同侧伏隔核中多巴胺代谢产物——3、4双羟苯乙酸(DOPAC),峰值明显增高,注后50 min达到对照值的128％(P<0.01),注后80 min达到最高峰,为对照值的143％(P<0.01),作用的持续时间约2 h,在注后180 min恢复到对照值的111％(P>0.05)。左侧VTA预先微量注射SCH23390——一种高选择性的D_1受体阻断剂(2nmol/0.5μl,n=4).40min后再微量注射溴隐亭(2.5μg/0.5μl),同侧伏隔核中DOPAC氧化峰不再增高。结果提示:VTA微量注射溴隐亭可致中脑边缘多巴胺神经元活动增加,而这种增加作用可能是通过D_1受体中介的。     

单次注射人工合成大麻素降低大鼠中脑腹侧背盖区多巴胺能神经元兴奋性北大核心CSCD

大麻成瘾可能维持一生。中脑腹侧背盖区(ventral tegmental area,VTA)作为投射到意识及情绪相关皮层和边缘系统的多巴胺能神经元的主要来源,是奖赏系统的关键部位之一,与药物成瘾密切相关。目前,对于VTA多巴胺能神经元在药物成瘾过程中的作用研究,主要集中在药物成瘾过程中突触可塑性的变化。已有研究表明,大麻素慢性作用5天后,易化了低频电刺激诱导VTA多巴胺能神经元产生突触传递的长时程减弱(long-term depression,LTD)效应,而此过程中多巴胺能神经元兴奋性的变化情况还未见报道。实验中,作者采用离体脑片膜片钳技术,观察单次注射人工合成大麻素HU210对大鼠VTA区多巴胺能神经元兴奋性的影响。结果显示,HU210作用后,神经元基强度增大,平均放电频率降低,其细胞膜电生理特性也发生了改变,表明单次注射人工合成大麻素HU210,降低了VTA多巴胺能神经元的兴奋性,提示神经元内在兴奋性的可塑性改变可能在药物成瘾中发挥作用。     

食物奖赏对药物奖赏的作用及神经机制

食物奖赏与药物奖赏均能通过奖赏效应刺激个体对奖赏物产生依赖性,且二者相关的神经环路有着广泛的重叠区域。目前,已有不少研究表明食物奖赏与药物奖赏之间存在驱力转移现象:受到某种奖赏刺激的个体,对其他种类奖赏的寻求动机也会增强。简而言之,食物奖赏能促进药物奖赏,增强其奖赏效应,但在某些条件下也有抑制或无影响的情况出现。本文将从食物奖赏促进药物奖赏、二者共有的解剖学基础、食物奖赏对药物奖赏的其他作用效果及干扰因素这3个方面进行综述,以期为日后探究二者之间的作用机理及利用食物奖赏干预药物奖赏提供证据,为药物成瘾的防治提供帮助。     

Serotonin-GABA interactions modulate MDMA-induced mesolimbic dopamine release

3,4,-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') acts at monoamine nerve terminals to alter the release and re-uptake of dopamine and 5-HT. The present study used microdialysis in awake rats to measure MDMA-induced changes in extracellular GABA in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), simultaneous with measures of extracellular dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) shell. (+)-MDMA (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) increased GABA efflux in the VTA with a bell-shaped dose-response. This increase was blocked by application of TTX through the VTA probe. MDMA (5 mg/kg) increased 5-HT efflux in VTA by 1037% (p < 0.05). The local perfusion of the 5-HT(2B/2C) antagonist SB 206553 into the VTA reduced VTA GABA efflux after MDMA from a maximum of 229% to a maximum of 126% of basal values (p < 0.05), while having no effect on basal extracellular GABA concentrations. DA concentrations measured simultaneously in the NAC shell were increased from a maximum of 486% to 1320% (p < 0.05). The selective DA releaser d-amphetamine (AMPH) (4 mg/kg) also increased VTA GABA efflux (180%), did not alter 5-HT and increased NAC DA (875%) (p < 0.05), but the perfusion of SB 206553 into the VTA failed to alter these effects. These results suggest that MDMA-mediated increases in DA within the NAC shell are dampened by increases in VTA GABA subsequent to activation of 5-HT(2B/2C) receptors in the VTA.     

Specific involvement of neurotensin type 1 receptor in the neurotensin-mediated in vivo dopamine efflux using knock-out mice

Abstract Neurotensin is a tridecapeptide neurotransmitter known to be involved in psychiatric disorders, various physiological processes and several different neurobiological mechanisms, including modulation of accumbal dopamine release. Two neurotensin extracellular binding sites, namely NT1- and NT2-receptor (NT1R and NT2R), have been cloned from the rat brain. These receptors are distinguishable by their different in vitro pharmacological properties but the available pharmacological tools have weak in vivo potency and specificity. The use of genetically engineered knock-out mice has provided a powerful alternative to the classical pharmacological approach to investigate their respective roles. In this study, using in vivo differential pulse amperometry, we show that, in wild-type mice, neurotensin application into the ventral tegmental area dose-dependently evokes dopamine efflux in the nucleus accumbens. This neurotensin-mediated efflux is dramatically decreased in mice lacking NT1R while it is unaffected in NT2R-deleted mice. This finding indicates that a large part of the dopamine efflux evoked by neurotensin in the nucleus accumbens of wild-type mice is mediated via NT1R present in the ventral tegmental area.     

Acute administration of cocaine regulates the phosphorylation of serine-19, -31 and -40 in tyrosine hydroxylase

Acute cocaine can inhibit catecholamine biosynthesis by regulating the enzymatic activity of tyrosine hydroxylase via alterations in the phosphorylation state of the enzyme. The mechanisms underlying acute cocaine-dependent regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation have not been determined. In this study, 0, 15 or 30 mg/kg cocaine was administered intraperitoneally to rats and the phosphorylation state of tyrosine hydroxylase in the brain was examined using antibodies specific for the phosphorylated forms of serine-19, -31 and -40 in tyrosine hydroxylase. In the caudate and nucleus accumbens, cocaine dose-dependently decreased the levels of phosphorylated serine-19, -31 and -40. In the ventral tegmental area, the levels of phosphorylated serine-19, but not serine-31 and -40, were decreased by 15 and 30 mg/kg cocaine. In the amygdala, the levels of phosphorylated serine-19, but not serine-31 or -40, were decreased. The functional effects of these alterations in phosphorylation state were assessed by measuring tyrosine hydroxylase activity in vivo (accumulation of DOPA after administration of the decarboxylase inhibitor NSD-1015). Acute administration of 30 mg/kg cocaine significantly decreased l-DOPA production in caudate and accumbens but not in amygdala. These data suggest that the phosphorylation of serine-31 or -40, but not serine-19, is involved in the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase activity by acute cocaine.     

Involvement of GABA and cholinergic receptors in the nucleus accumbens on feedback control of somatodendritic dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area

The objectives of the present study were to examine the involvement of GABA and cholinergic receptors within the nucleus accumbens (ACB) on feedback regulation of somatodendritic dopamine (DA) release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Adult male Wistar rats were implanted with ipsilateral dual guide cannulae for in vivo microdialysis studies. Activation of the feedback system was accomplished by perfusion of the ACB with the DA uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 (GBR; 100 microm). To assess the involvement of GABA and cholinergic receptors in regulating this feedback system, antagonists (100 microm) for GABAA (bicuculline, BIC), GABAB (phaclofen, PHAC), muscarinic (scopolamine, SCOP), and nicotinic (mecamylamine, MEC) receptors were perfused through the probe in the ACB while measuring extracellular DA levels in the ACB and VTA. Local perfusion of the ACB with GBR significantly increased (500% of baseline) the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB and produced a concomitant decrease (50% of baseline) in the extracellular DA levels in the VTA. Perfusion of the ACB with BIC or PHAC alone produced a 200-400% increase in the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB but neither antagonist altered the levels of DA in the VTA. Co-perfusion of either GABA receptor antagonist with GBR further increased the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB to 700-800% of baseline. However, coperfusion with BIC completely prevented the reduction in the extracellular levels of DA in the VTA produced by GBR alone, whereas PHAC partially prevented the reduction. Local perfusion of the ACB with either MEC or SCOP alone had little effect on the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB or VTA. Co-perfusion of either cholinergic receptor antagonist with GBR markedly reduced the extracellular levels of DA in the ACB and prevented the effects of GBR on reducing DA levels in the VTA. Overall, the results of this study suggest that terminal DA release in the ACB is under tonic GABA inhibition mediated by GABAA (and possibly GABAB) receptors, and tonic cholinergic excitation mediated by both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Activation of GABAA (and possibly GABAB) receptors within the ACB may be involved in the feedback inhibition of VTA DA neurons. Cholinergic interneurons may influence the negative feedback system by regulating terminal DA release within the ACB.     

Contemporary approaches to neural circuit manipulation and mapping: focus on reward and addiction

Tying complex psychological processes to precisely defined neural circuits is a major goal of systems and behavioural neuroscience. This is critical for understanding adaptive behaviour, and also how neural systems are altered in states of psychopathology, such as addiction. Efforts to relate psychological processes relevant to addiction to activity within defined neural circuits have been complicated by neural heterogeneity. Recent advances in technology allow for manipulation and mapping of genetically and anatomically defined neurons, which when used in concert with sophisticated behavioural models, have the potential to provide great insight into neural circuit bases of behaviour. Here we discuss contemporary approaches for understanding reward and addiction, with a focus on midbrain dopamine and cortico-striato-pallidal circuits.     

Region-dependent regulation of mesoaccumbens dopamine neurons in vivo by the constitutive activity of central serotonin2C receptors

Central serotonin2C receptors (5-HT(2C)Rs) control the mesoaccumbens dopamine (DA) pathway. This control involves the constitutive activity (CA) of 5-HT(2C)Rs, and is thought to engage regionally distinct populations of 5-HT(2C)Rs, leading to opposite functional effects. Here, using in vivo microdialysis in halothane-anesthetized rats, we investigated the relative contribution of ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens shell (NAc) 5-HT(2C)Rs in the phasic/tonic control of accumbal DA release, to specifically identify the nature (inhibition/excitation) of the control, and the role of the 5-HT(2C)R CA. Intra-VTA injections of the selective 5-HT(2C)R antagonists SB 242084 and/or SB 243213 (0.1-0.5 microg/0.2 microL) prevented the decrease in accumbal DA outflow induced by the 5-HT(2C)R agonist Ro 60-0175 (3 mg/kg, i.p), but did not affect the increase in DA outflow induced by the 5-HT(2C)R inverse agonist SB 206553 (5 mg/kg, i.p). Intra-NAc infusions of SB 242084 (0.1-1 microM) blocked Ro 60-0175- and SB 206553-induced changes of DA outflow. Intra-NAc, but not intra-VTA administration of SB 206553 increased basal DA outflow. These findings demonstrate that both VTA and NAc 5-HT(2C)Rs participate in the inhibitory control exerted by 5-HT(2C)Rs on accumbal DA release, and that the NAc shell may represent a primary action site for the CA of 5-HT(2C)Rs.