2023
Ventral tegmental area M5 muscarinic receptors mediate effort-choice responding and nucleus accumbens dopamine in a sex-specific manner
Nunes E, Kebede N, Haight J, Foster D, Lindsley C, Conn P, Addy N. Ventral tegmental area M5 muscarinic receptors mediate effort-choice responding and nucleus accumbens dopamine in a sex-specific manner. Journal Of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics 2023, 385: jpet-ar-2022-001438. PMID: 36828630, PMCID: PMC10108441, DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001438.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNucleus accumbens coreVentral tegmental areaM5 receptorsDA releaseMale ratsVTA infusionsDepressive disorderNucleus accumbensMuscarinic M5 receptorsSelective negative allosteric modulatorM5 muscarinic receptorsNegative allosteric modulatorsEffort-related choicePhasic DA releasePotential sex differencesSex-specific mannerACh toneVTA administrationCholinergic effectsMuscarinic receptorsFemale ratsTegmental areaPreclinical modelsDopamine releaseTherapeutic target
2022
L-type calcium channel regulation of dopamine activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway: Implications for substance use, mood disorders and co-morbidities
Nunes E, Addy N. L-type calcium channel regulation of dopamine activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway: Implications for substance use, mood disorders and co-morbidities. Neuropharmacology 2022, 224: 109336. PMID: 36414149, PMCID: PMC11215796, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109336.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsL-type calcium channelsVentral tegmental areaPre-clinical modelsTegmental areaSubstance useLTCC blockersMood disordersCalcium channelsCo-morbid psychiatric diagnosesDA neuronal activityVoltage-gated calcium channelsMood-related behaviorsSubstance use disordersCalcium channel regulationStress-induced plasticityAccumbens pathwayCardiac medicationsDopamine neuronsLTCC subtypesNeuronal activityNeuronal firingUse disordersPsychiatric diagnosisCalcium entryDopamine activity
2020
Examining the role of muscarinic M5 receptors in VTA cholinergic modulation of depressive-like and anxiety-related behaviors in rats
Nunes EJ, Rupprecht LE, Foster DJ, Lindsley CW, Conn PJ, Addy NA. Examining the role of muscarinic M5 receptors in VTA cholinergic modulation of depressive-like and anxiety-related behaviors in rats. Neuropharmacology 2020, 171: 108089. PMID: 32268153, PMCID: PMC7313677, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108089.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSucrose preference testVentral tegmental areaMuscarinic M5 receptorsCholinergic toneM5 receptorsBehavioral effectsFemale ratsDepressive-like behavioral effectsIntra-VTA infusionAnxiogenic-like effectsAcetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmineAnxiety-related behaviorVTA administrationCholinergic modulationCholinergic receptorsMuscarinic receptorsInhibitor physostigmineSwim testTegmental areaMale ratsMood disordersVTA infusionsFST behaviorRatsPhysostigmine
2018
The L-type calcium channel blocker, isradipine, attenuates cue-induced cocaine-seeking by enhancing dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway
Addy NA, Nunes EJ, Hughley SM, Small KM, Baracz SJ, Haight JL, Rajadhyaksha AM. The L-type calcium channel blocker, isradipine, attenuates cue-induced cocaine-seeking by enhancing dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens pathway. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018, 43: 2361-2372. PMID: 29773910, PMCID: PMC6180103, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0080-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsL-type calcium channelsCocaine relapseLever depressionVentral tegmental areaCocaine self-administration trainingOriginal training contextLight cue presentationSelf-administration trainingSubjective effectsCocaine-seeking behaviorTegmental areaBehavioral effectsCocaine's subjective effectsL-type calcium channel blockerCue presentationMale Sprague-Dawley ratsTraining contextCocaine cuesNucleus accumbens coreNatural rewardsDA receptor activationCalcium channel blockersSprague-Dawley ratsPhasic dopaminePotential therapeutic target