2015
Acetylcholine Acts through Nicotinic Receptors to Enhance the Firing Rate of a Subset of Hypocretin Neurons in the Mouse Hypothalamus through Distinct Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Mechanisms1,2
Zhou WL, Gao XB, Picciotto MR. Acetylcholine Acts through Nicotinic Receptors to Enhance the Firing Rate of a Subset of Hypocretin Neurons in the Mouse Hypothalamus through Distinct Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Mechanisms1,2. ENeuro 2015, 2: eneuro.0052-14.2015. PMID: 26322330, PMCID: PMC4551500, DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0052-14.2015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHypocretin neuronsMiniature EPSCsPostsynaptic nAChRsFiring rateHypocretin/orexin neuronsFrequency of mEPSCsAntagonism of nAChRsPhasic ACh releasePresence of atropineApplication of AChInternal calcium releaseNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsMouse brain slicesOne-thirdAddiction-related behaviorsPresynaptic AChPresynaptic nAChRsOrexin neuronsACh releaseGlutamatergic inputsPostsynaptic modulationPostsynaptic mechanismsMEPSC frequencyTonic activationBrain slices
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
2010
Galanin and Addiction
Picciotto MR. Galanin and Addiction. EXS 2010, 102: 195-208. PMID: 21299070, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-0346-0228-0_14.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGalanin receptorsFood intakeOpiate rewardDrug rewardAbility of neuropeptidesMesolimbic dopamine systemDrugs of abuseGalanin agonistsNoradrenergic neuronsDrug withdrawalStriatal slicesWithdrawal signsAnalgesic propertiesLocus coeruleusHypothalamic functionDopamine releaseGalaninDopamine systemNovel treatmentsPlace preferenceStress-related pathwaysFiring ratePotential targetWithdrawalIntake
2008
Galanin – 25 years with a multitalented neuropeptide
Picciotto MR. Galanin – 25 years with a multitalented neuropeptide. Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences 2008, 65: 1872-1879. PMID: 18500649, PMCID: PMC11131873, DOI: 10.1007/s00018-008-8151-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGalanin receptorsFood intakeOpiate rewardDrug rewardGalanin – 25 yearsAbility of neuropeptidesMesolimbic dopamine systemDrugs of abuseGalanin agonistsNoradrenergic neuronsDrug withdrawalStriatal slicesWithdrawal signsAnalgesic propertiesLocus coeruleusHypothalamic functionDopamine releaseDopamine systemGalaninNovel treatmentsPlace preferenceStress-related pathwaysFiring ratePotential targetWithdrawal