Diacylglycerol lipase disinhibits VTA dopamine neurons during chronic nicotine exposure

Chronic nicotine exposure (CNE) alters synaptic transmission in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in a manner that enhances dopaminergic signaling and promotes nicotine use. The present experiments identify a correlation between enhanced production of the endogenous cannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and diminished release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the VTA following CNE. To study the functional role of on-demand 2-AG signaling in GABAergic synapses, we used 1,2,3-triazole urea compounds to selectively inhibit 2-AG biosynthesis by diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL).

Source: Alcohol - May 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: Matthew W. Buczynski, Melissa A. Herman, Ku-Lung Hsu, Luis A. Natividad, Cristina Irimia, Ilham Y. Polis, Holly Pugh, Jae Won Chang, Micah J. Niphakis, Benjamin F. Cravatt, Marisa Roberto, Loren H. Parsons Source Type: research