Ventral tegmental area astrocytes orchestrate avoidance and approach behavior

J. A. Gomez; J. M. Perkins; G. M. Beaudoin; N. B. Cook; S. A. Quraishi; E. A. Szoeke; K. Thangamani; C. W. Tschumi; M. J. Wanat; A. M. Maroof; M. J. Beckstead; P. A. Rosenberg; C. A. Paladini

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-09131-y

Nature Communications (Mar 2019)

Ventral tegmental area astrocytes orchestrate avoidance and approach behavior

J. A. Gomez,
J. M. Perkins,
G. M. Beaudoin,
N. B. Cook,
S. A. Quraishi,
E. A. Szoeke,
K. Thangamani,
C. W. Tschumi,
M. J. Wanat,
A. M. Maroof,
M. J. Beckstead,
P. A. Rosenberg,
C. A. Paladini

Affiliations

J. A. Gomez: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
J. M. Perkins: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
G. M. Beaudoin: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
N. B. Cook: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
S. A. Quraishi: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
E. A. Szoeke: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
K. Thangamani: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
C. W. Tschumi: Aging & Metabolism Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
M. J. Wanat: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
A. M. Maroof: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
M. J. Beckstead: Aging & Metabolism Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
P. A. Rosenberg: Department of Neurology and the F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
C. A. Paladini: University of Texas at San Antonio Neurosciences Institute, Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09131-y
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Astrocytes can dynamically control glutamate availability at specific active synapses through the glutamate transporter, GLT-1. Here, the authors show that astrocytes in the VTA selectively facilitate excitation of VTA GABAergic neurons to inhibit dopamine neurons and drive avoidance behavior via GLT-1.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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