Topic: cocaine-induced locomotion

Our previous studies have suggested that acupuncture modulates the mesolimbic dopamine(DA) system, a region implicated in drug abuse. Therefore, in this study, we hypothesized that the stimulation of acupuncture activates mesolimbic GABA neurons in the ventral tegmental area(VTA), thereby affecting the inhibition of addictive behavior. Cocaine injections and LI5 acupuncture stimulation significantly increased locomotor activity, but HT7 acupuncture inhibited cocaine-induced locomotion. In vivo fiber photometry showed that HT7 stimulation significantly activated VTA GABA neurons compared to con

Background: The lateral hypothalamus (LH), known to play roles in modulation of reward, avoidance, and preference, projects to the associated brain regions such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA), lateral habenula (LHb), and rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg). Previous studies have established that LH neurons projecting to LHb influence cocaine-induced behavior and dopamine release. However, the specific neuronal populations and the peptides involved in cocaine-induced behavioral effects have not been elucidated.Purpose: To address this, our study aimed to investigate the roles of LH neuro