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NEUROPHARMACOLOGY

Ethanol Suppression of Ventral Tegmental Area GABA Neuron Electrical Transmission Involves N-Methyl-D-aspartate Receptors

Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) GABA neurons are critical substrates modulating the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system implicated in natural and drug reward. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ethanol on glutamatergic and GABAergic modulation of VTA GABA neuron electrical synaptic transmission. We evaluated the effects of systemic ethanol (0.05–2.0 g/kg i.p.), the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist dizocilpine (MK-801; 0.05–0.2 mg/kg i.v.), the connexin-36 gap junction blocker quinidine (5–20 mg/kg i.v.), the fast-acting barbiturate methohexital (Brevital; 5–10 mg/kg i.v.), and the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide (Librium; 5–10 mg/kg i.v.), as well as in situ VTA administration of NMDA and the GABA_A receptor agonist muscimol, on VTA GABA neuron spontaneous activity and internal capsule stimulus-induced poststimulus spike discharges (ICPSDs). Systemic ethanol, quinidine, and dizocilpine reduced, whereas local NMDA enhanced, and the systemic and local GABA_A receptor modulators did not significantly alter VTA GABA neuron ICPSDs. Ethanol potentiated dizocilpine inhibition of VTA GABA neuron ICPSDs, but not quinidine inhibition. In situ microelectrophoretic application of dopamine markedly enhanced VTA GABA neuron firing rate (131%), spike duration (124%), and spike coupling, which were blocked by systemic quinidine. These findings indicate that VTA GABA neurons are coupled electrically via gap junctions and that the inhibitory effect of ethanol on electrical transmission is primarily via inhibition of NMDA receptor-mediated excitation, not via enhancement of GABA receptor-mediated inhibition. Thus, the rewarding properties of ethanol may result from inhibitory effects on excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission between electrically coupled networks of midbrain GABA neurons.

Address correspondence to: Dr. Scott C. Steffensen, Department of Psychology (922 SWKT), Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602. E-mail: scott_steffensen{at}byu.edu

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