TY - JOUR
T1 - The Evolving Understanding of Dopamine Neurons in the Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area
AU - Gantz, Stephanie C.
AU - Ford, Christopher P.
AU - Morikawa, Hitoshi
AU - Williams, John T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/2/10
Y1 - 2018/2/10
N2 - In recent years, the population of neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) has been examined at multiple levels. The results indicate that the projections, neurochemistry, and receptor and ion channel expression in this cell population vary widely. This review centers on the intrinsic properties and synaptic regulation that control the activity of dopamine neurons. Although all dopamine neurons fire action potentials in a pacemaker pattern in the absence of synaptic input, the intrinsic properties that underlie this activity differ considerably. Likewise, the transition into a burst/pause pattern results from combinations of intrinsic ion conductances, inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs that differ among this cell population. Finally, synaptic plasticity is a key regulator of the rate and pattern of activity in different groups of dopamine neurons. Through these fundamental properties, the activity of dopamine neurons is regulated and underlies the wide-ranging functions that have been attributed to dopamine.
AB - In recent years, the population of neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) has been examined at multiple levels. The results indicate that the projections, neurochemistry, and receptor and ion channel expression in this cell population vary widely. This review centers on the intrinsic properties and synaptic regulation that control the activity of dopamine neurons. Although all dopamine neurons fire action potentials in a pacemaker pattern in the absence of synaptic input, the intrinsic properties that underlie this activity differ considerably. Likewise, the transition into a burst/pause pattern results from combinations of intrinsic ion conductances, inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs that differ among this cell population. Finally, synaptic plasticity is a key regulator of the rate and pattern of activity in different groups of dopamine neurons. Through these fundamental properties, the activity of dopamine neurons is regulated and underlies the wide-ranging functions that have been attributed to dopamine.
KW - Bursting
KW - Dendritic transmission
KW - Intrinsic properties
KW - Pacemaker
KW - Plasticity
KW - Synaptic transmission
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U2 - 10.1146/annurev-physiol-021317-121615
DO - 10.1146/annurev-physiol-021317-121615
M3 - Review article
C2 - 28938084
AN - SCOPUS:85041920423
SN - 0066-4278
VL - 80
SP - 219
EP - 241
JO - Annual Review of Physiology
JF - Annual Review of Physiology
ER -