Abstract
The dopamine (DA) innervation to the forebrain arises from subpopulations of midbrain DA neurones broadly classified as nigrostriatal, mesolimbic and mesocortical1. Significant differences in the autoregulatory mechanisms and neuronal inputs of these DA pathways may account for their differences in physiological and pharmacological responsiveness2. For example, foot-shock stress can activate rat mesocortical DA cells but does not alter nigrostriatal DA turnover3-5, while also decreasing substance P (SP) concentrations in the midbrain interpeduncular nucleus and in the adjacent ventral tegmental area (VTA), but not in the substantia nigra (SN)6. This suggested that the activation of the SP input to the VTA6 may mediate activation of certain DA systems by footshock stress (Fig. 1); behavioural studies also had suggested an excitatory effect of SP on DA cells in the VTA7. SP antagonists now available are neurotoxic8 and of questionable efficacy9, we therefore used monoclonal antibody against SP. Antibody microinjected into the VTA prevented normal footshock-induced activation of mesocortical DA neurones, suggesting mediation by SP input to the VTA. The in vivo application of antibodies may prove valuable in studies of neuropeptides in the central nervous system (CNS).
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 791-792 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 306 |
Issue number | 5945 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1983 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General