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Research ArticleNEUROPHARMACOLOGY

Dopamine-Independent Locomotion Following Blockade of N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors in the Ventral Tegmental Area

Jennifer L. Cornish, Mistu Nakamura and Peter W. Kalivas
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 2001, 298 (1) 226-233;
Jennifer L. Cornish
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Mistu Nakamura
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Peter W. Kalivas
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Abstract

Compounds acting in the ventral tegmental area to increase motor activity are thought to do so by activating mesolimbic dopamine transmission. The present report demonstrates that the microinjection of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists into the ventral tegmental area produces a dose-dependent increase in motor activity. This effect was not mimicked by antagonizing either α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid/kainate or metabotropic glutamate receptors in the ventral tegmental area. Three experiments were conducted that indicated that the capacity of NMDA receptor antagonists to elevate motor activity did not involve increased dopamine transmission. 1) The systemic administration of a D1 dopamine receptor antagonist did not inhibit the motor stimulant response to NMDA antagonist injection into the ventral tegmental area except at doses that also inhibited motor activity after an injection of saline into the ventral tegmental area. 2) Stimulating orphanin receptors in the ventral tegmental area selectively inhibits dopamine cells, and this did not alter NMDA antagonist-induced motor activity. Whereas, stimulating γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptors hyperpolarizes both dopamine and GABA cells in the ventral tegmental area, and this abolished NMDA antagonist-induced motor activity. 3) The microinjection of an NMDA antagonist into the ventral tegmental area did not increase dopamine metabolism in dopamine terminal fields, including the accumbens, striatum, or prefrontal cortex. Also consistent with a lack of dopamine involvement, repeated administration of NMDA antagonist into the ventral tegmental area did not produce behavioral sensitization. These data identify a mechanism to elicit a motor stimulant response from the ventral tegmental area that does not involve activating dopamine transmission.

Footnotes

  • ↵1 Current address: Department of Psychobiology, National Institute on Drug Abuse/National Institutes of Health Building C, Room 321, 5500 Nathan Shock Dr., Baltimore, MD 21224. E-mail:jcornish{at}intra.nida.nih.gov

  • This work was supported in part by U.S. Public Health Service Grants DA-03906 and MH-40817.

  • Abbreviations:
    VTA
    ventral tegmental area
    NMDA
    N-methyl-d-aspartate
    GABA
    γ-aminobutyric acid
    AMPA
    α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid
    CNQX
    6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione
    AP-5
    2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid
    MCPG
    (S)-α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine
    CPP
    (3-(R)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid
    DAMGO
    d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly-ol5]-enkephalin
    OFQ
    orphanin FQ-nociceptin
    DOPAC
    3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid
    HVA
    homovanillic acid
    ANOVA
    analysis of variance
    mGluR
    metabotropic glutamate receptor
    • Received November 21, 2000.
    • Accepted March 13, 2001.
  • The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics: 298 (1)
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Vol. 298, Issue 1
1 Jul 2001
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Research ArticleNEUROPHARMACOLOGY

Dopamine-Independent Locomotion Following Blockade of N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors in the Ventral Tegmental Area

Jennifer L. Cornish, Mistu Nakamura and Peter W. Kalivas
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 1, 2001, 298 (1) 226-233;

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Research ArticleNEUROPHARMACOLOGY

Dopamine-Independent Locomotion Following Blockade of N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors in the Ventral Tegmental Area

Jennifer L. Cornish, Mistu Nakamura and Peter W. Kalivas
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 1, 2001, 298 (1) 226-233;
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