Intracerebral dopaminergic transplants are not activated by electrical footshock stress activating in situ mesocorticolimbic neurons

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(88)90791-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Male rats received a dopaminergic implant aimed either at the nucleus accumbens or the ventral tegmental area (VTA) following 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of their mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system. Exposure to electrical footshock stress 6 months later markedly activated the mesocorticolimbic neurons in control animals as shown by the increase of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels both in the nucleus accumbens and the VTA. However, no stress-induced activation was seen for the grafted neurons, irrespective of the area of implantation. These results indicate the lack of reinnervation and modulation of the grafted dopaminergic neurons by one of the important afferent systems regulating the activity of endogenous mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons.

Cited by (16)

  • Biological substrates of reward and aversion: A nucleus accumbens activity hypothesis

    2009, Neuropharmacology
    Citation Excerpt :

    Thus the NAc is involved in a complex integration of excitatory glutamate inputs, sometimes excitatory dopamine (D1-like) inputs, and sometimes inhibitory dopamine (D2-like) inputs. Considering that VTA tends to a have uniform response–activation to both rewarding (e.g., morphine; see Di Chiara and Imperato, 1988; Leone et al., 1991; Johnson and North, 1992) and aversive (Dunn, 1988; Herman et al., 1988; Kalivas and Duffy, 1989; McFarland et al., 2004) stimuli, the ability of the NAc to integrate these excitatory and inhibitory signals downstream of mesolimbic dopamine neurons likely plays a key role in attaching valence and regulating mood. It is well accepted that the NAc plays a key role in reward.

View all citing articles on Scopus

This work was supported by grants from MRT (85.C.1143) and the Conseil Régional d'Aquitaine.

Antibodies directed against tyrosine hydroxylase were generously donated by A. Vigny (Paris). The expert secretarial help of Ms. M. Thamptham and technical assistance of Mr. J.M. Claustrat is gratefully acknowledged.

View full text