Dopaminergic Neurons in Zona Incerta Drives Appetitive Self-Grooming.

ABSTRACT: Dopaminergic (DA) neurons are known to play a key role in controlling behaviors. While DA neurons in other brain regions are extensively characterized, those in zona incerta (ZI^TH or A13) receive much less attention and their function remains to be defined. Here it is shown that optogenetic stimulation of these neurons elicited intensive self-grooming behaviors and promoted place preference, which can be enhanced by training but cannot be converted into contextual memory. Interestingly, the same stimulation increased DA release to periaqueductal grey (PAG) neurons and local PAG antagonism of DA action reduced the elicited self-grooming. In addition, A13 neurons increased their activity in response to various external stimuli and during natural self-grooming episodes. Finally, mo

SUBMITTER: Jiang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11422805 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature