Ventral Tegmental Area
Research News and Information

Saturday, November 21, 2009

In vivo measurement of somatodendritic release of dopamine in the ventral tegmental area.

30 Oct 2009 The ventral tegmental area (VTA), the locus of mesolimbic dopamine cell bodies, contains dopamine. Experiments in brain slices have demonstrated that VTA dopamine can be released by local electrical stimulation. Measurements with both push-pull ... Read more...

The time course of dopamine transmission in the ventral tegmental area.

19 Oct 2009 Synaptic transmission mediated by G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) is not generally thought to be point-to-point. To determine the extent over which dopamine signals in the midbrain, the present study examined the concentration and time course of ... Read more...

Ultrastructural analysis of local collaterals of rat ventral tegmental area neurons: GABA phenotype and synapses onto dopamine and GABA cells.

29 Sep 2009 Local synapses formed by nondopamine cells within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are thought to provide an important regulatory influence on the activity patterns of dopamine (DA) neurons. However, ultrastructural confirmation of intra-areal ... Read more...

Latest indexed articles for 'Ventral Tegmental Area'

These are the very latest articles for this heading:

• In vivo measurement of somatodendritic release of dopamine in the ventral tegmental area. 30 Oct 2009
• The time course of dopamine transmission in the ventral tegmental area. 19 Oct 2009
• Ultrastructural analysis of local collaterals of rat ventral tegmental area neurons: GABA phenotype and synapses onto dopamine and GABA cells. 29 Sep 2009
• Effects of microinjection of angiotensin II and captopril to VTA on morphine self-administration in rats. 30 Aug 2009
• Prenatal stress alters spine density and dendritic length of nucleus accumbens and hippocampus neurons in rat offspring. 30 Aug 2009
• Dopamine controls persistence of long-term memory storage. 19 Aug 2009
• Increased Fos expression among midbrain dopaminergic cell groups during birdsong tutoring. Aug 2009
• Temporary inactivation of ventral tegmental area neurons with either muscimol or baclofen reversibly disrupts maternal behavior in rats through different underlying mechanisms. 30 Jul 2009
• Leptin acts via leptin receptor-expressing lateral hypothalamic neurons to modulate the mesolimbic dopamine system and suppress feeding. 30 Jul 2009
• Duality of salience in dopamine neurons. 21 Jul 2009
• Selective alpha7 nicotinic receptor activation by AZD0328 enhances cortical dopamine release and improves learning and attentional processes. 14 Jul 2009
• Cocaine-evoked synaptic plasticity: persistence in the VTA triggers adaptations in the NAc. 11 Jul 2009
• Prenatal methamphetamine exposure affects the mesolimbic dopaminergic system and behavior in adult offspring. 6 Jul 2009
• Glucocorticoid status affects antidepressant regulation of locus coeruleus tyrosine hydroxylase and dorsal raphé tryptophan hydroxylase gene expression. Jul 2009
• Extended daily access to cocaine results in distinct alterations in Homer 1b/c and NMDA receptor subunit expression within the medial prefrontal cortex. 29 Jun 2009
• Requirement of central ghrelin signaling for alcohol reward. 27 Jun 2009
• The Flinders Sensitive Line of rats, a rat model of depression, has elevated brain glucose utilization when compared to normal rats and the Flinders Resistant Line of rats. 24 Jun 2009
• The dopamine puzzle. 17 Jun 2009
• Nicotine-induced upregulation of nicotinic receptors: underlying mechanisms and relevance to nicotine addiction. 16 Jun 2009
• Optical imaging of rat prefrontal neuronal activity evoked by stimulation of the ventral tegmental area. 15 Jun 2009

See a longer list of these articles.

Technical information about 'Ventral Tegmental Area'

Definition: A region in the mesencephalon which is dorsomedial to the substantia nigra and ventral to the red nucleus. The mesocortical and mesolimbic dopaminergic systems originate here, including an important projection to the nucleus accumbens. Overactivity of the cells in this area has been suspected to contribute to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Descriptor UI: D017557

Alternative terms: Ventral Tegmental Area; Tegmental Area, Ventral;

Allowable Qualifiers: abnormalities; anatomy & histology; blood supply; cytology; drug effects; embryology; enzymology; growth & development; immunology; injuries; metabolism; microbiology; parasitology; pathology; physiology; physiopathology; radiation effects; radiography; radionuclide imaging; secretion; surgery; transplantation; ultrastructure; ultrasonography; chemistry; virology;

Tree Number: A08.186.211.132.659.822.820; A08.186.211.653.822.820;

History Note: 94

Technical Notes: a region in the mesencephalon