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 activityCholinergic and dopaminergic‐mediated motivated behavior in healthy states and in substance use and mood disorders
Nunes EJ, Kebede N, Bagdas D, Addy NA. Cholinergic and dopaminergic‐mediated motivated behavior in healthy states and in substance use and mood disorders. Journal Of The Experimental Analysis Of Behavior 2022, 117: 404-419. PMID: 35286712, PMCID: PMC9743782, DOI: 10.1002/jeab.747.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMood disordersSubstance useActivational componentsMotivated behaviorComorbid substance useMesolimbic dopamine systemDA releaseCholinergic activityCholinergic transmissionImportant neuromodulatorCholinergic dysregulationDA regulationDopamine systemDA signalingActivational aspectsDisease statesDisordersAversive stimuliPossible roleHealthy stateCholinergicAcetylcholineStimuliEtiologyIllness
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
2017
Evaluating oral flavorant effects on nicotine self-administration behavior and phasic dopamine signaling
Wickham RJ, Nunes EJ, Hughley S, Silva P, Walton SN, Park J, Addy NA. Evaluating oral flavorant effects on nicotine self-administration behavior and phasic dopamine signaling. Neuropharmacology 2017, 128: 33-42. PMID: 28943284, PMCID: PMC5714675, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.09.029.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSelf-administration behaviorNucleus accumbensNicotine self-administration behaviorIntravenous self-administration paradigmFast-scan cyclic voltammetryPublic health policy decisionsPhasic DA signalingTobacco product useProgressive ratio taskSelf-administration paradigmTwo-bottle choice testPhasic DA releaseHealth policy decisionsTobacco product regulationOral mentholOral nicotineOral sucroseNicotine administrationPreclinical findingsDA releaseMale ratsOral administrationSmoking behaviorNicotine aversionMenthol effects
2010
Sensitization of Rapid Dopamine Signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell After Repeated Cocaine in Rats
Addy N, Daberkow D, Ford J, Garris P, Wightman R. Sensitization of Rapid Dopamine Signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell After Repeated Cocaine in Rats. Journal Of Neurophysiology 2010, 104: 922-931. PMID: 20554845, PMCID: PMC2934942, DOI: 10.1152/jn.00413.2010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute cocaine challengeCocaine challengeNucleus accumbens coreWithdrawal periodDopamine sensitizationShort withdrawal periodDopamine releaseDopamine neurotransmissionFast-scan cyclic voltammetryAccumbens coreMale Sprague-Dawley ratsSubsequent cocaine challengeSprague-Dawley ratsLonger withdrawal periodsCocaine-treated subjectsPre-exposed subjectsRepeated CocaineDaily injectionsAcute cocaineDopaminergic responseCocaine exposureDopamine overflowNAc coreDopamine uptakeUptake inhibition