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The cholinergic mesopontine tegmentum is a relatively neglected nicotinic master modulator of the dopaminergic system: relevance to drugs of abuse and pathology
Author(s) -
Maskos U
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1038/bjp.2008.5
Subject(s) - tegmentum , neuroscience , ventral tegmental area , pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus , nicotinic agonist , substantia nigra , cholinergic , dopaminergic , cholinergic neuron , acetylcholine , pedunculopontine nucleus , acetylcholine receptor , medicine , biology , dopamine , midbrain , receptor , parkinson's disease , central nervous system , deep brain stimulation , disease
The mammalian mesopontine tegmentum (MPT) contains two cholinergic nuclei, the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) and the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDTg). These provide the cholinergic innervation of, among other brain areas, the dopaminergic A9 and A10 cell groups. Their axons are thus the source of endogenous acetylcholine (ACh) acting on somato‐dendritic acetylcholine receptors in the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). The anatomy, physiology, functional and pathological implications of these interactions with the nicotinic subtype of acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are discussed with a view of the important role of the MPT as a master regulator of nicotinic dopaminergic signalling in the brain, including for nicotine addiction. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153 , S438–S445; doi: 10.1038/bjp.2008.5 ; published online 28 January 2008