10.1016/0006-8993(90)91118-z
https://zenodo.org/records/1148484
oai:zenodo.org:1148484
Brodie, Mark S.
Mark S.
Brodie
Shefner, Sarah A.
Sarah A.
Shefner
Dunwiddie, Thomas V.
Thomas V.
Dunwiddie
Ethanol increases the firing rate of dopamine neurons of the rat ventral tegmental area in vitro
Zenodo
1990
1990-01-01
Free for private use; right holder retains other rights, including distribution
The ventral tegmental area (VT A) is a brain region rich in dopamine-containing neurons. Since most agents which act as substrates for self-administration increase dopaminergic outflow in
the mesolimbic or mesocortical areas, the VT A slice preparation may be useful for identifying drugs with potential for abuse. While ethanol (EtOH) is a drug of abuse which has been widely studied, the properties of ethanol which contribute to its abuse potential are not known. We
have developed a brain slice preparation of the VT A in order to study the action of EtOH on putative dopamine neurons. Concentrations of EtOH from 20 to 320 mM produce a dose-dependent excitation of the dopamine-type neurons of the VTA. About 89% of neurons which have electrophysiological characteristics established for presumed dopamine-containing neurons were excited by ethanol in the pharmacologically relevant concentration range. This excitation persists in low calcium, high magnesium medium, which suggests a direct excitatory action of EtOH on dopamine-type cells in the VT A slice.