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Identification of an excitatory amino acid-mediated component of the ventral tegmental area local field potential response to medial prefrontal cortex stimulation: effect of acute d-amphetamine

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Summary.

The induction of sensitisation to the behavioural effects of d-amphetamine – a model of drug addiction – involves the potentiation of exctiatory amino acid (EAA)-ergic synapses on dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Such potentiation has been reported as early as 2 hr post-injection, however earlier time points have not been assessed. Consequently, we examined the effects of systemic d-amphetamine on an EAA-mediated component of the VTA local field potential response to stimulation of the medial prefrontal cortex, an EAAergic afferent critical for sensitisation, over the immediate 2 hr post-injection period. D-amphetamine and saline both depressed the amplitude of this component to a similar extent throughout the recording session. It is concluded that overt aspects of EAA-mediated potentiation appear to be delayed with respect to drug administration, which may have implications for sensitisation’s putative role in linking drug-related environmental stimuli and the central effects of the drug.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK

    E. J. Dommett & P. G. Overton

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Lancaster, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK

    J. Simpson

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK

    D. Clark

  4. Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, UK

    E. J. Dommett

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  1. E. J. Dommett
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  3. D. Clark
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Dommett, E., Simpson, J., Clark, D. et al. Identification of an excitatory amino acid-mediated component of the ventral tegmental area local field potential response to medial prefrontal cortex stimulation: effect of acute d-amphetamine. J Neural Transm 114, 161–172 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-006-0534-2

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