Cholinergic modulation of midbrain dopaminergic systems

J Mena-Segovia, Philip Winn, JP Bolam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Dopamine neurons in the midbrain respond to behavioral events and environmental stimuli. Their different patterns of activation in turn modulate the activity of forebrain regions and modulate the expression of selective behavioral responses. However, their activity is closely dependent on the cholinergic systems in the brainstem. Ascending cholinergic projections from the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei target dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra compacta and ventral tegmental area following a topographical gradient. These projections, by means of the activation of acetylcholine receptors, influence the firing of dopamine neurons and therefore their responsiveness, ultimately affecting the release of dopamine in their forebrain targets. Brainstem cholinergic neurons are thus in a position to critically influence the activity of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, and thereby have a critical role in the expression of behavior. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)265-271
Number of pages7
JournalBrain Research Reviews
Volume58
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2008

Keywords

  • pedunculopontine
  • laterodorsal tegmental
  • substantia nigra compacta
  • ventral tegmental area
  • cholinergic
  • dopamine
  • PEDUNCULOPONTINE TEGMENTAL NUCLEUS
  • RAT SUBSTANTIA-NIGRA
  • PROGRESSIVE SUPRANUCLEAR PALSY
  • PARS-COMPACTA
  • MESOPONTINE TEGMENTUM
  • SUBTHALAMIC NUCLEUS
  • PARKINSONS-DISEASE
  • BASAL GANGLIA
  • AFFERENT CONNECTIONS
  • NICOTINIC RECEPTORS

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