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. 2022 Dec:161:105424.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105424. Epub 2022 Oct 11.

Activation of ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons ameliorates anxiety-like behaviors in single prolonged stress-induced PTSD model rats

Peiqing Guan  1 , Chunzheng Huang  1 , Qinghui Lan  1 , Shile Huang  2 , Peiling Zhou  3 , Changzheng Zhang  4
Affiliations

Activation of ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons ameliorates anxiety-like behaviors in single prolonged stress-induced PTSD model rats

Peiqing Guan et al. Neurochem Int. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition that arises after extremely traumatic events, with clinically significant and lasting impacts on both physical and psychological health. The present study examined the role of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic signaling in anxiety-like behaviors and the underlying mechanisms in PTSD model rats. Chemogenetic technology was employed to specifically activate VTA dopamine (DA) neurons in rats subjected to single prolonged stress (SPS), and open field and elevated plus maze tests were applied to evaluate the anxiety-like manifestations. Subsequently, in vivo extracellular electrophysiological analyses were used to examine alterations in the firing characteristics of VTA DA neurons. Chemogenetic activation enhanced the firing and burst rates of VTA DA neurons in SPS-induced PTSD model rats and concomitantly mitigated the anxiety-like behavioral phenotypes. Collectively, these findings reveal a direct association between PTSD-relevant anxiety behaviors and VTA dopaminergic activity, and further suggest that interventions designed to enhance VTA dopaminergic activity may be a potential strategy for PTSD treatment.

Keywords: Behavioral symptom; Dopamine; Neuronal firing; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Ventral tegmental area.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest All authors have no declared conflict of interest and have nothing to disclose.

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