Topic: mesolimbic pathway

Dopamine (DA)’s relationship with addiction is complex, and the related pathways in the mesocorticolimbic system are used to deliver DA, regulating both behavioral and perceptual actions. Specifically, the mesolimbic pathway connecting the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is crucial in regulating memory, emotion, motivation, and behavior due to its responsibility to modulate dopamine. To better investigate the relationship between DA and addiction, more advanced mapping methods are necessary to monitor its production and propagation accurately and efficiently. In th

Glucagon like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), such as Semaglutide, suppress food intake and are FDA approved to treat obesity. The primary mechanism of GLP-1 RAs involves interactions with the central nervous system, where GLP1 RA act in the hypothalamus or brainstem to reduce food intake. GLP-1 action on midbrain dopamine neurons in the VTA may also reduce food motivation and reward to suppress appetite. In addition to GLP1 RAs, new compounds with dual GLP1R and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor co-agonism, such as tirzepatide, show greater weight loss