Control of extracellular dopamine at dendrite and axon terminals

Christopher P. Ford, Stephanie C. Gantz, Paul E.M. Phillips, John T. Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

110 Scopus citations

Abstract

Midbrain dopamine neurons release dopamine from both axons and dendrites. The mechanism underlying release at these different sites has been proposed to differ. This study used electrochemical and electrophysiological methods to compare the time course and calcium dependence of somatodendritic dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) to that of axonal dopamine release in the dorsal striatum. The amount of dopamine released in the striatum was ∼20-fold greater than in cell body regions of the VTA or SNc. However, the calcium dependence and time to peak of the dopamine transients were similar. These results illustrate an unexpected overall similarity in the mechanisms of dopamine release in the striatum and cell body regions. To examine how diffusion regulates the time course of dopamine following release, dextran was added to the extracellular solution to slow diffusion. In the VTA, dextran slowed the rate of rise and fall of the extracellular dopamine transient as measured by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry yet did not alter the kinetics of the dopamine-dependent IPSC. Dextran failed to significantly alter the time course of the rise and fall of the dopamine transient in the striatum, suggesting a more influential role for reuptake in the striatum. The conclusion is that the time course of dopamine within the extracellular space of the VTA is dependent on both diffusion and reuptake, whereas the activation of D2 receptors on dopamine neurons is primarily limited by reuptake.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6975-6983
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume30
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - May 19 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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