Glutamatergic and GABAergic mu-opioid receptor VTA neurons differentially modulate motivational and somatic consequences of fentanyl use
Emily Prevost, Dylan Capes, Lucy Ward, Megan Heilbron, Dillon McGovern, David Root · FENS Forum 2024
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a major site of opioid reward processing. Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonism inhibits GABAergic VTA interneurons, thereby disinhibiting dopamine release from nucleus accumbens-projecting VTA neurons. This GABA disinhibition circuit canonically drives opioid-induced reward and opioid-seeking in the VTA. However, we recently discovered MOR-expressing VTA neurons that release glutamate. In opposition to the classic GABA disinhibition model, MOR agonism on glutamatergic VTA neurons decreases activity in VTA dopamine neurons. Here, we investigated the role of GABA-
ePoster · Neuroscience