Proportion and distribution of neurotransmitter-defined cell types in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta.

ABSTRACT: Most studies on the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) have focused on dopamine neurons and their role in processes such as motivation, learning, movement, and associated disorders such as addiction and Parkinson's disease. However there has been increasing attention on other VTA and SNc cell types that release GABA, glutamate, or a combination of neurotransmitters. Yet the relative distributions and proportions of neurotransmitter-defined cell types across VTA and SNc has remained unclear. Here, we used fluorescent in situ hybridization in male and female mice to label VTA and SNc neurons that expressed mRNA encoding the canonical vesicular transporters for dopamine, GABA, or glutamate: vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2), vesicular GABA transporter

SUBMITTER: Conrad WS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12097539 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature