The
ability
to
distinguish
strangers
from
familiar
individuals
is
crucial
for
the
survival
of
most
mammalian
species.
In
humans,
an
inability
recognize
kin
and
engage
in
appropriate
behaviors
associated
with
several
types
dementia,
including
Alzheimer’s
disease.
Mice
preferentially
spend
more
time
investigating
a
novel
individual
relative
individual.
Yet,
how
social
novelty
related
information
drives
increased
investigation
animal
remains
poorly
understood.
Recent
evidence
has
implicated
ventral
hippocampus
(vHPC)
as
key
node
encoding
about
conspecific
identity.
Of
particular
interest
are
vHPC
projections
lateral
septum
(LS),
region
that
been
driving
wide
range
motivated
behaviors.
this
study
using
chemogenetics,
optogenetics
monosynaptic
rabies
tracing,
we
identified
vHPC-LS-ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA)
pathway
necessary
mice
investigate
conspecifics.
Using
established
LS
neurons
make
direct
connections
onto
dopaminergic
VTA.
Thus,
have
potential
via
which
identity
could
be
transformed
drive
Theranostics,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
14(3), С. 1126 - 1146
Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024
Neurons
in
the
ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA)
are
sensitive
to
stress
and
their
maladaptation
have
been
implicated
psychiatric
disorders
such
as
anxiety
addiction,
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Март 14, 2024
ABSTRACT
Early-life
stress
increases
sensitivity
to
subsequent
stress,
which
has
been
observed
among
humans,
other
animals,
at
the
level
of
cellular
activity,
and
gene
expression.
However,
molecular
mechanisms
underlying
such
long-lasting
are
poorly
understood.
We
tested
hypothesis
that
persistent
changes
in
transcription
transcriptional
potential
were
maintained
epigenome,
through
chromatin.
used
a
combination
bottom-up
mass
spectrometry,
viral-mediated
epigenome-editing,
behavioral
quantification,
RNA-sequencing
mouse
model
early-life
focusing
on
ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA),
brain
region
critically
implicated
motivation,
reward
learning,
response,
mood
drug
disorders.
find
mice
alters
histone
dynamics
VTA
majority
these
modifications
associated
with
an
open
chromatin
state
would
predict
active,
primed,
or
poised
expression,
including
enriched
histone-3
lysine-4
methylation
H3K4
monomethylase
Setd7.
Mimicking
ELS
over-expression
Setd7
enrichment
H3K4me1
recapitulates
ELS-induced
hypersensitivity
future
stress.
These
findings
enrich
our
understanding
epigenetic
linking
environmental
experiences
long-term
alterations
reactivity
within
brain’s
circuitry,
implications
for
potentially
treating
anxiety
disorders
humans.
The
ability
to
distinguish
strangers
from
familiar
individuals
is
crucial
for
the
survival
of
most
mammalian
species.
In
humans,
an
inability
recognize
kin
and
engage
in
appropriate
behaviors
associated
with
several
types
dementia,
including
Alzheimer’s
disease.
Mice
preferentially
spend
more
time
investigating
a
novel
individual
relative
individual.
Yet,
how
social
novelty
related
information
drives
increased
investigation
animal
remains
poorly
understood.
Recent
evidence
has
implicated
ventral
hippocampus
(vHPC)
as
key
node
encoding
about
conspecific
identity.
Of
particular
interest
are
vHPC
projections
lateral
septum
(LS),
region
that
been
driving
wide
range
motivated
behaviors.
this
study
using
chemogenetics,
optogenetics
monosynaptic
rabies
tracing,
we
identified
vHPC-LS-ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA)
pathway
necessary
mice
investigate
conspecifics.
Using
established
LS
neurons
make
direct
connections
onto
dopaminergic
VTA.
Thus,
have
potential
via
which
identity
could
be
transformed
drive
Nature Communications,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
16(1)
Опубликована: Апрель 2, 2025
Assigning
valence
to
stimuli
for
adaptive
behavior
is
an
essential
function,
involving
the
ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA).
VTA
cell
types
are
often
defined
through
neurotransmitters
(NT).
However,
function
in
does
not
parse
along
NT-boundaries
as,
within
each
NT-class,
certain
neurons
excited
by
reward
and
others
stressors.
Here
we
identify,
male
mice,
co-activated
neuronal
ensembles
stress,
determine
their
role
behaviors.
We
show
that
of
opposite
(opioid
vs
acute
social
stress)
recruit
two
distinct
ensembles.
These
continue
be
preferentially
engaged
congruent
stimuli.
Stimulation
stress-
or
aversive/reinforcing,
respectively.
Strikingly,
external
fully
require
activity
these
small
discrete
conferring
approach/avoidance
outcomes.
Overall,
our
study
identifies
positive
negative
coding
shows
indispensability
behavior.
Appetite,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown, С. 108146 - 108146
Опубликована: Май 1, 2025
The
brain
reward
system
is
essential
for
regulating
appetitive
and
consummatory
behaviors
in
response
to
various
incentive
stimuli.
Junk
food,
characterized
by
its
high
palatability,
particularly
associated
with
the
potential
excessive
consumption.
While
prior
studies
indicate
that
junk
food
intake
can
impact
circuitry,
precise
mechanisms
underlying
these
effects
remain
elusive.
Furthermore,
it
unclear
whether
functionality
of
this
neural
similarly
altered
other
natural
rewards.
In
study,
we
used
fiber
photometry
combined
a
behavioral
test
investigate
six
weeks
cafeteria
(CAF)
diet
consumption
on
ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA)
activity
responses
sexual
rewards
female
rats.
Our
findings
demonstrate
prolonged
exposure
CAF
reduced
exploration
These
changes
were
accompanied
attenuated
VTA.
Similarly,
reductions
VTA
observed
partner,
although
no
significant
differences
detected
during
interactions.
Moreover,
two-week
reversal
standard
chow
proved
insufficient
restore
CAF-exposed
animals,
which
continued
exhibit
decreased
both
partners.
results
suggest
induces
desensitization
VTA,
resulting
responsiveness
Abstract
The
mesencephalic
dopamine
(DA)
system
is
composed
of
neuronal
subtypes
that
are
molecularly
and
functionally
distinct,
responsible
for
specific
behaviors,
closely
associated
with
numerous
brain
disorders.
Existing
research
has
made
significant
advances
in
identifying
the
heterogeneity
DA
neurons,
which
necessary
understanding
their
diverse
physiological
functions
disease
susceptibility.
Moreover,
there
a
conflict
regarding
electrophysiological
properties
distinct
subsets
midbrain
neurons.
This
review
aimed
to
elucidate
recent
developments
including
subpopulation
categorization,
characteristics,
functional
connectivity
provide
new
strategies
accurately
neurons
investigating
underlying
mechanisms
these
various
diseases.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Май 30, 2024
Abstract
Assigning
valence
to
stimuli
for
adaptive
behavior
is
an
essential
function,
involving
the
ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA).
VTA
cell
types
are
often
defined
through
neurotransmitters
(NT).
However,
function
in
does
not
parse
along
NT-boundaries
as,
within
each
NT-class,
certain
neurons
excited
by
reward
and
others
stressors.
Here
we
identify
co-activated
mouse
neuronal
ensembles
stress,
determine
their
role
behaviors.
We
show
that
of
opposite
(opioid
vs
acute
social
stress)
recruit
two
segregated
intermingled
small
ensembles.
These
continue
be
preferentially
engaged
congruent
stimuli.
Stimulation
stress-
or
aversive/reinforcing,
respectively.
Strikingly,
external
fully
require
activity
these
discrete
conferring
approach/avoidance
outcomes.
Overall,
our
study
identifies
distinct
positive
negative
coding
shows
indispensability
behavior.
