A5063262887- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Pharmacological Receptor Mechanisms and Effects
- Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Advanced Memory and Neural Computing
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Iterative Learning Control Systems
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Eicosanoids and Hypertension Pharmacology
Brigham Young University
2014-2025
Center for Neurosciences
2022
Vollum Institute
2014-2017
Oregon Health & Science University
2014-2017
Wake Forest University
2009-2016
University of Utah
2014
Significance Strong associations between cocaine and the environmental contexts where is administered are thought to drive relapse. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) encodes these cue–reward associations, here we determined how alters ability of cells in NAc respond drug-associated stimuli drug seeking. Using fiber photometry calcium imaging define specific population cells, dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons, that information about show can be manipulated attenuate strength prevent Together,...
Abstract Social isolation ( SI ) rearing, a model of early life stress, results in profound behavioral alterations, including increased anxiety‐like behavior, impaired sensorimotor gating and self‐administration addictive substances. These changes are accompanied by alterations mesolimbic dopamine function, such as metabolite tissue content, responses to cues psychostimulants, neuron burst firing. Using voltammetric techniques, we examined the effects rearing on transporter activity,...
The release of dopamine from terminals in the NAc is regulated by a number factors, including voltage-gated ion channels, D2-autoreceptors, and nAChRs. Cholinergic interneurons (CINs) drive through activation nAChRs on terminals. Using cyclic voltammetry mouse brain slices, nAChR-dependent spontaneous transients mechanisms underlying origin were examined NAc. Spontaneous events infrequent (0.3 per minute), but rate amplitude increased after blocking Kv channels with 4-aminopyridine. Although...
Extensive evidence suggests that the hypocretins/orexins influence cocaine reinforcement and dopamine signaling via actions at hypocretin receptor 1. By comparison, involvement of 2 in reward processes has received relatively little attention. Thus, although there is some regulates intake drugs abuse, it currently unclear to what extent participates regulation or self-administration, particularly under high effort conditions. To address this, we examined effects 1, and/or blockade on...
In the olfactory bulb, lateral inhibition mediated by local juxtaglomerular interneurons has been proposed as a gain control mechanism, important for decorrelating odorant responses. Among interneurons, short axon cells are unique dual-transmitter neurons that release dopamine and GABA. To examine their intraglomerular function, we expressed channelrhodopsin under of DAT-cre promoter activated afferents within individual glomeruli. Optical stimulation labeled triggered endogenous measured...
Striatal dopamine release is key for learning and motivation composed of subregions including the dorsal striatum (DS), nucleus accumbens core, shell. Spontaneously occurring was compared across these subregions. Dopamine release/uptake dynamics differ striatal subregions, with transient amplitude frequency greatest in male mice, largest signals observed DS. Surprisingly, female mice exhibited little regional differences DS core regions, but lower Blocking voltage-gated K+ channel (Kv...
Electrophysiology and microdialysis studies have provided compelling evidence that moderate to high ethanol concentrations enhance dopamine (DA) neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) through mesolimbic DA system. However, with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, short-term exposure doses of decreases evoked release at terminals NAc. The aim this study was evaluate involvement nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) modulating effects on NAc C57BL/6 mice ex vivo vivo. Local...
Chronic peri-adolescent stress in humans increases risk to develop a substance use disorder during adulthood. Rats reared social isolation peri-adolescence (aSI; 1 rat/cage) period show greater ethanol and cocaine intake compared group housed (aGH; 4 rats/cage) rats. In addition, aSI rats have heightened dopamine response the nucleus accumbens (NAc) rewarding aversive stimuli. Furthermore, single pulse electrical stimulation slices containing NAc core elicits release Here, we further...
Iboga alkaloids, also known as coronaridine congeners, have shown promise in the treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorders. The objective this study was to evaluate effects catharanthine 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC) on dopamine (DA) transmission cholinergic interneurons mesolimbic DA system, nicotine-induced locomotor activity, nicotine-taking behavior. Utilizing ex vivo fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) nucleus accumbens core male mice, we found that or 18-MC differentially...
Ivermectin (IVM) is a commonly prescribed antiparasitic treatment with pharmacological effects on invertebrate glutamate ion channels resulting in paralysis and death of invertebrates. However, it can also act as modulator some vertebrate has shown promise facilitating L-DOPA preclinical models Parkinson's disease. The IVM dopamine terminal function were tested, focusing the role two IVM's potential targets: purinergic P2X4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. enhanced electrochemical...
Background Ethanol (EtOH) is known to have excitatory effects on dopamine (DA) release, with moderate-to-high doses (0.5 2.5 g/kg) of acute EtOH enhancing DA neuron firing rates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and levels nucleus accumbens (NAc). has also been shown reduce activity, moderate (1 2 attenuating electrically evoked higher (5 decreasing NAc levels, demonstrating a biphasic effect release. The purpose current study was evaluate EtOH's inhibitory terminal release under low-...
Dysregulation of biological rhythms plays a role in wide range psychiatric disorders. We report mechanistic insights into the rapid dopamine signals and cholinergic interneurons (CINs) working concert rodent striatum. These mediate diurnal variation conditioned responses to reward-associated cues. that signal-to-noise ratio varies according time day phasic are magnified during middle dark cycle rats. show CINs provide mechanism for by serving as gain function adjusts across day. also cues...
Background: Ventral tegmental area (VTA) γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons appear to be critical substrates underlying the acute and chronic effects of ethanol on dopamine (DA) neurotransmission in mesocorticolimbic system implicated drug reward. VTA GABA neuron firing rate is reduced by enhanced DA via D2 receptor activation. The objective this study was evaluate role receptors inhibition activity, as well adaptation consumption. Methods: Using electrophysiological methods, we evaluated...