2014
Self-Administration of Ethanol, Cocaine, or Nicotine Does Not Decrease the Soma Size of Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons
Mazei-Robison MS, Appasani R, Edwards S, Wee S, Taylor SR, Picciotto MR, Koob GF, Nestler EJ. Self-Administration of Ethanol, Cocaine, or Nicotine Does Not Decrease the Soma Size of Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons. PLOS ONE 2014, 9: e95962. PMID: 24755634, PMCID: PMC3995955, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095962.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVentral tegmental areaSoma sizeDopamine neuronsVentral tegmental area dopamine neuronsChronic opiate administrationAdditional drug classesDrug-specific mannerMorphological changesSelf-administer cocaineOpiate administrationTegmental areaDrug classesDA circuitsMesolimbic DA circuitSelf-AdministrationFiring rateSimilar morphological changesGeneral hallmarkNeuronsNicotineCocaineDrugsRecent findingsPrevious observationsNeuroplasticity
2009
Nucleus Accumbens CREB Activity is Necessary for Nicotine Conditioned Place Preference
Brunzell DH, Mineur YS, Neve RL, Picciotto MR. Nucleus Accumbens CREB Activity is Necessary for Nicotine Conditioned Place Preference. Neuropsychopharmacology 2009, 34: 1993-2001. PMID: 19212318, PMCID: PMC2709692, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2009.11.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsConditioning, PsychologicalCuesCyclic AMP Response Element-Binding ProteinDecision MakingDose-Response Relationship, DrugDown-RegulationGene Transfer TechniquesMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLNicotineNicotinic AgonistsNucleus AccumbensPhosphorylationRewardSynaptic TransmissionTobacco Use DisorderUp-RegulationConceptsCyclic AMP response element binding proteinNAc shellPlace preferenceNicotine CPPCREB activityModulation of cocaineCREB activationNicotine place preferenceAbility of nicotineAbsence of nicotineCue-induced responsesDominant-negative CREB constructNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsAMP response element binding proteinLevels of CREBTranscription factor cyclic AMP response element binding proteinViral-mediated gene transferRange of dosesActivation of intracellularNicotine exposureMorphine rewardC57BL/6J miceNicotine rewardDopamine neuronsLong-term consequences
2006
Ghrelin modulates the activity and synaptic input organization of midbrain dopamine neurons while promoting appetite
Abizaid A, Liu ZW, Andrews ZB, Shanabrough M, Borok E, Elsworth JD, Roth RH, Sleeman MW, Picciotto MR, Tschöp MH, Gao XB, Horvath TL. Ghrelin modulates the activity and synaptic input organization of midbrain dopamine neurons while promoting appetite. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2006, 116: 3229-3239. PMID: 17060947, PMCID: PMC1618869, DOI: 10.1172/jci29867.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAction PotentialsAnimalsAppetiteDopamineFluorescent Antibody TechniqueGhrelinMaleMesencephalonMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutNeuronsNucleus AccumbensPatch-Clamp TechniquesPeptide HormonesRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyReceptors, GhrelinReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledTime FactorsVentral Tegmental AreaConceptsVentral tegmental areaGHSR-deficient miceGHSR-dependent mannerGut hormone ghrelinDopamine neuronal activityMidbrain dopamine neuronsMesolimbic reward circuitrySynaptic input organizationPeripheral ghrelinRebound feedingVTA administrationOrexigenic effectDopamine turnoverGHSR antagonistDopamine neuronsHypothalamic centersTegmental areaHormone ghrelinNucleus accumbensGhrelinNeuronal activitySynapse formationReward circuitryInput organizationFeeding scheduleGalanin: a novel therapeutic target for depression, anxiety disorders and drug addiction?
Holmes A, Picciotto MR. Galanin: a novel therapeutic target for depression, anxiety disorders and drug addiction? CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2006, 5: 225-32. PMID: 16611095, DOI: 10.2174/187152706776359600.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStress-related neural pathwaysBrain stress pathwaysSerotonin-producing neuronsDistribution of galaninDepression-related behaviorsDorsal raphe nucleusExpression of galaninAdministration of galaninNovel therapeutic targetDrug addictionPotential roleAnxiety-like responsesGalanin agonistsGalanin systemRaphe nucleusDopamine neuronsOpiate withdrawalLocus coeruleusNeuronal typesRodent modelsCurrent evidenceGalaninPsychiatric disordersTherapeutic targetOpiate reinforcement
2000
Nicotinic modulation of mesoprefrontal dopamine neurons: pharmacologic and neuroanatomic characterization.
George TP, Verrico CD, Picciotto MR, Roth RH. Nicotinic modulation of mesoprefrontal dopamine neurons: pharmacologic and neuroanatomic characterization. Journal Of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics 2000, 295: 58-66. PMID: 10991961.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMesoprefrontal DA neuronsDA neuronsLocal infusionNicotinic acetylcholine receptor stimulationMesoprefrontal dopamine neuronsMesoprefrontal dopamine systemEndogenous opioid peptidesVentral tegmental areaHigh comorbid ratesNicotine-pretreated ratsMedial prefrontal cortexDA metabolismNicotinic modulationCortical dysfunctionNicotine administrationCigarette smokingSite of actionStress-induced statesNicotine pretreatmentDA dysregulationDopamine neuronsSystemic administrationTegmental areaDA dysfunctionCognitive dysfunction