VTA DA Neuron Electrophysiology in Selected Rat Lines

描述（由申请人提供）：本R01的长期目标是 使用电生理学技术，确定介导高血压的CNS机制， 酒精寻求行为具体目标是为了检验假设 中脑边缘多巴胺（DA）系统的先天差异是遗传的基础， 易受酗酒行为的影响。选择性培育的大鼠品系 将使用不同的酒精饮用：偏好酒精的P， 非酒精偏好NP、高饮酒HAD和低饮酒 左前降支导管。个别实验将集中在神经元的活动， 腹侧被盖区（VTA）DA能神经元。细胞外记录技术和 离子电渗法将用于确定P， NP、HAD和LAD大鼠，P和NP中NMDA受体敏感性的差异 大鼠和P和HAD大鼠在慢性 酒精消费和禁欲。该项目的成果将提供 关于高血压相关电生理参数的基本见解 酒精寻求行为这些信息将有助于制定 治疗酒精中毒和酒精滥用的药物疗法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of this R01 is to identify, using electrophysiological techniques, CNS mechanisms mediating high alcohol seeking behavior. The specific aims are designed to test the hypothesis that innate differences in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system underlie genetic vulnerability to high alcohol seeking behavior. Rat lines selectively bred for disparate alcohol drinking will be used: the alcohol-preferring P, alcohol-non-preferring NP, high alcohol drinking HAD and low alcohol drinking LAD lines. The individual experiments will focus on the neuronal activity of ventral tegmental area (VTA) DA neurons. Extracellular recording techniques and iontophoresis will be used to determine differences in basal activity among P, NP, HAD and LAD rats, differences in receptor sensitivities to NMDA in P and NP rats and differences in neuronal activity in P and HAD rats during chronic alcohol consumption and abstinence. The results of this project will provide fundamental insights regarding electrophysiological parameters involved in high alcohol seeking behavior. Such information will be germane for developing pharmacotherapies for the treatment of alcoholism and alcohol abuse.