The midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains neurons largely with either a dopaminergic (DAergic) or GABAergic phenotype. Physiological and pharmacological properties of DAergic neurons have been determined using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry but many properties overlap with non-DAergic neurons presumed to be GABAergic. This study examined properties of GABAergic neurons, non-GABAergic neurons and TH-immunopositive neurons in VTA of GAD67-GFP knock-in mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic morphine treatment produces behavioral and cellular opioid tolerance that has been proposed to be caused by attenuated μ-opioid receptor (MOR) recovery from desensitization (resensitization). The process of MOR resensitization is thought to require βarrestin-2 (βarr-2)-dependent trafficking of desensitized receptors to endosomal compartments, followed by recycling of resensitized receptors back to the plasma membrane. However, there is little direct evidence for this, particularly in native neurons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe brain-gut peptide neurotensin has complex effects on gastrointestinal smooth muscle. Our objective was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying neurotensin contractions in human colon. Discrete concentration response curves to neurotensin were obtained in strips of circular muscle and taenia coli from "normal" ascending and sigmoid colon segments, in the presence and absence of various pharmacological inhibitors.
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