Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 114.2 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | The suprachiasmatic nucleus indirectly projects to the ventral tegmental area: transneuronal tract-tracing studies. |
| Authors: |
Luo, A. H.*1
; Aston-Jones, G.1
1Dept Psychiatry, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Disorders of the Nervous System - Addiction and Drugs of Abuse -- Neurobiology of reward |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Homeostatic and Neuroendocrine Systems<br />- Biological Rhythms and Sleep<br />-- SCN anatomy, physiology, and neurochemistry |
| Session: |
114. Neurobiology of Reward Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Saturday, November 12, 2005 2:00 PM-3:00 PM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Hall A-C, Board # VV88 |
| Keywords: | VTA, SCN, CIRCADIAN, DOPAMINE |
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a circadian pacemaker that synchronizes a number of vital physiological and behavioral processes. Although a great deal of research has focused on input pathways to the SCN and on the central clock itself, relatively little is known about SCN output signaling pathways. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) has been extensively studied for its influence in motivated learning, and more recently for a potential role in arousal and sleep-wake regulation. Possible circadian influences on VTA neurons have received little attention, in part because the SCN does not directly project to the VTA. However, data from our lab indicate that VTA neurons exhibit diurnal fluctuations in impulse activity (Luo and Aston-Jones, SFN 2004). We hypothesized that diurnal fluctuations in VTA activity are due to indirect afferent input from the SCN. To test this idea, the retrograde transneuronal tracer Pseudorabies virus (PRV; Bartha strain) was microinjected into the VTA. A time-course analysis of PRV labeling was performed with survival times of 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hrs. The SCN consistently labeled with PRV starting at ~ 48 hrs, indicative of an indirect circuit projection to the VTA. Current studies are focused on delineating the intermediate relay nuclei between the SCN and VTA. These data indicate a novel SCN output pathway to the VTA that may function in the circadian regulation of numerous behavioral processes.
Supported by PHS grants F31 MH071093 and R37 DA06214
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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