Mechanisms and functions of dendritic dopamine release in the brain

大脑中使用化学信使多巴胺(DA)的神经元在控制运动、动机行为和认知方面发挥着关键作用。目前，我们对大脑中控制DA释放的基本机制知之甚少。虽然从神经元的神经末梢(轴突终末)释放DA是很好的特征，并且已知是通过一种调节的胞吐作用发生的，但DA也从DA神经元的细胞体和树突释放(STD DA释放)，目前对这一过程如何发生以及它在脑功能中扮演什么角色知之甚少。这一综合研究计划可能有助于更好地理解DA神经元在运动、动机和认知中的作用。它还将确定一种可能与解释大脑其他化学信使(如5-羟色胺和神经肽)树突释放相关的机制。之所以我们对STD DA释放的作用知之甚少，主要是因为目前还没有选择性地阻断或促进STD DA释放来检查其功能和行为后果。

Neurons in the brain that use the chemical messenger dopamine (DA) play a key role in the control of movement, motivated behaviors and cognition. At present, we know very little about the basic mechanisms that control DA release in the brain. Although DA release from the neurons' nerve endings (axon terminals) is well characterized and known to occur through a form of regulated exocytosis, DA is also released from the cell body and dendrites of DA neurons (STD DA release) and very little is presently known about how this occurs and what roles it plays in brain function. This integrated research program may lead to a better understanding of the role of DA neurons in movement, motivation and cognition. It will also identify a mechanism that is likely to be relevant to explain the dendritic release of other chemical messengers of the brain such as serotonin and neuropeptides. The reason we know so little about the roles of STD DA release is mainly because at the present time, there is no way to selectively block or enhance STD DA release to examine the functional and behavioral consequences.