Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 348, Issue 1, 25 November 1985, Pages 201-203
Brain Research

Low doses of ethanol activate dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(85)90381-6Get rights and content

Abstract

In unanesthetized rats the intravenous administration of low doses of ethanol (0.125–0.5 g/kg) produced a dose-dependent increase (30–80%) in the firing rate of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA). In agreement with previous observations, a dose range between 0.5 and 2 g/mg of ethanol was needed to produce comparable stimulant responses in DA neurons of the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta. However, in anesthetized rats, doses of ethanol up to 1 g/kg failed to activate VTA-DA neurons. The high sensitivity of VTA-DA neurons to ethanol activation suggests that they might be involved in the reinforcing properties of the drug.

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This study was supported by CNR Grant CT 84.02356.56 and a grant of the Italian M.P.I. to G.M.

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We wish to thank Mr. Virgilio Boi for his expert technical assistance, Mark M. Voight for his comments on the manuscript and Mrs. Linda Russell for the computer-manuscript preparation.

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