Ventral tegmental area muscarinic receptors modulate depression and anxiety-related behaviors in rats

Neuroscience Letters
Keri M SmallNii A Addy

Abstract

Cholinergic and dopaminergic mechanisms within the mesolimbic dopamine system are suggested to play a role in the manifestation of depression and anxiety-related disorders. However, despite the fact that cholinergic mechanisms in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) highly regulate dopamine activity, the role of VTA cholinergic mechanisms in depression-related behaviors is relatively unknown. Here we sought to determine whether enhancing cholinergic tone in the VTA would alter depression and anxiety-related behavior in the forced swim test (FST), elevated plus maze (EPM) and sucrose preference test (SPT). Adult Sprague Dawley male rats received VTA infusion of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine (0, 1, 2μg/side), immediately prior to the FST, EPM, or SPT. Physostigmine administration increased immobility time in the FST, decreased time spent on open arms in the EPM, and decreased sucrose preference. We also examined whether activation of VTA muscarinic receptors was sufficient to alter behavior in the FST and EPM. Similar to physostigmine, VTA infusion of the muscarinic receptor agonist, pilocarpine (0, 3, 30μg/side), increased immobility time in the FST and decreased time spent on open arms in the EPM. These data sug...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1974·Psychosomatic Medicine·D S JanowskyJ M Davis
Nov 7, 2000·Biological Psychiatry·W C Drevets
Jun 9, 2005·Archives of General Psychiatry·Ronald C KesslerEllen E Walters
Jan 31, 2006·Trends in Neurosciences·Stephanie J Cragg
Mar 29, 2006·Biological Psychiatry·Eric J Nestler, William A Carlezon
Jun 15, 2006·Neuron·Monica Mameli-EngvallPhilippe Faure
Jun 4, 2010·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Sergio D IñiguezCarlos A Bolaños-Guzmán
Jul 7, 2010·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Michael T Treadway, David H Zald
Jun 27, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jennifer L Warner-SchmidtPaul Greengard
Dec 4, 2012·Biological Psychiatry·Wayne C DrevetsMaura L Furey
Feb 13, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Yann S MineurMarina R Picciotto
May 21, 2013·Genes, Brain, and Behavior·S LammelM R Warden
Sep 3, 2013·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·Michael B First
Apr 25, 2014·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Jiook ChaLilianne R Mujica-Parodi
Sep 5, 2014·The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·J M WitkinC C Felder
Sep 1, 2015·European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology·J N PannekoekN J A van der Wee

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 28, 2016·BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders·Toshinaga TsujiJeffrey Vietri
Aug 30, 2019·Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology·Sarah FalkChristoffer Clemmensen
Aug 19, 2018·Molecular Psychiatry·Stephanie C Dulawa, David S Janowsky
Aug 15, 2020·Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience·Zackary A CopeJared W Young
Apr 11, 2019·Molecular Psychiatry·Megan E Fox, Mary Kay Lobo
Jan 22, 2019·ACS Chemical Neuroscience·Andrey D VolginAllan V Kalueff

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.