Determination of neurotensin projections to the ventral tegmental area in mice.

Neuropeptides
Hillary L WoodworthGina M Leinninger

Abstract

Pharmacologic treatment with the neuropeptide neurotensin (Nts) modifies motivated behaviors such as feeding, locomotor activity, and reproduction. Dopamine (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) control these behaviors, and Nts directly modulates the activity of DA neurons via Nts receptor-1. While Nts sources to the VTA have been described in starlings and rats, the endogenous sources of Nts to the VTA of mice remain incompletely understood, impeding determination of which Nts circuits orchestrate specific behaviors in this model. To overcome this obstacle we injected the retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold into the VTA of mice that express GFP in Nts neurons. Identification of GFP-Nts cells that accumulate Fluoro-Gold revealed the Nts afferents to the VTA in mice. Similar to rats, most Nts afferents to the VTA of mice arise from the medial and lateral preoptic areas (POA) and the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), brain regions that are critical for coordination of feeding and reproduction. Additionally, the VTA receives dense input from Nts neurons in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAsh) of mice, and minor Nts projections from the amygdala and periaqueductal gray area. Collectively, our data reveal multiple populations of N...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 15, 2018·Endocrinology·Emily Qualls-Creekmore, Heike Münzberg
Mar 21, 2019·PLoS Biology·Fumito NaganumaRamalingam Vetrivelan
Sep 21, 2018·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Ted M HsuMitchell F Roitman
Feb 14, 2019·Scientific Reports·Juliette A BrownGina M Leinninger
Dec 4, 2019·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Benjamín RodríguezMirian A F Hayashi
Feb 15, 2020·Neuropharmacology·María Luisa Torruella-Suárez, Zoe A McElligott
Sep 7, 2021·Physiological Reviews·Alan G WattsWolfgang Langhans

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR

Software Mentioned

Photoshop
Cell Sens

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Amygdala and Midbrain Dopamine

The midbrain dopamine system is widely studied for its involvement in emotional and motivational behavior. Some of these neurons receive information from the amygdala and project throughout the cortex. When the circuit and transmission of dopamine is disrupted symptoms may present. Here is the latest research on the amygdala and midbrain dopamine.

Amygdala: Sensory Processes

Amygdalae, nuclei clusters located in the temporal lobe of the brain, play a role in memory, emotional responses, and decision-making. Here is the latest research on sensory processes in the amygdala.

Basal Ganglia

Basal Ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei in the brain associated with control of voluntary motor movements, procedural and habit learning, emotion, and cognition. Here is the latest research.