Optogenetic stimulation of lateral hypothalamic orexin/dynorphin inputs in the ventral tegmental area potentiates mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission and promotes reward-seeking behaviours.

ABSTRACT: Reward and reinforcement processes are critical for survival and propagation of genes. While numerous brain systems underlie these processes, a cardinal role is ascribed to mesolimbic dopamine. However, ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons receive complex innervation and various neuromodulatory factors, including input from lateral hypothalamic (LH) orexin/hypocretin neurons which also express and co-release the neuropeptide, dynorphin. Dynorphin in the VTA induces aversive conditioning through the Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) and decreases dopamine when administered intra-VTA. Exogenous application of orexin or orexin 1 receptor (oxR1) antagonists in the VTA bidirectionally modulates dopamine-driven motivation and reward-seeking behaviours, including the attribution of motivationa

SUBMITTER: Thomas CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8782948 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature