Mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway

The nucleus accumbens is part of the limbic system. It receives dopaminergic input through the mesolimbic system that originates from cell bodies in the ventral segmental area (A 10 cell group). This mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway is part of the reward pathways. Drugs of abuse (cocaine, amphetamine, opiates or nicotine) have been shown to increase the level of dopamine release in these neurons. 

Spanagel R., Herz A., Shippenberg T. Opposing tonically active endogenous opioid systems modulate the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89 2046, 1992. 

Drugs stimulate receptors on the cell bodies of dopaminergic neurons causing dopamine release and stimulating postsynaptic dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens, supposedly resulting in the perception of pleasure [1]. Other hypotheses suggest that these mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways are necessary for the... 

Should addiction be viewed as a brain disease Consider the implications of drug actions on the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. 

Mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway Pathway that is rewarding when stimulated (Cihapter 3). 

Janhunen S, Ahtee L (2007) Differential nicotinic regulation of the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways implications for dmg development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 31 287-314... 

Postmortem studies of patients with idiopathic Parkinson s disease demonstrate cell loss in the striatal system (A-9), directly implicating this tract vis-a-vis the neuroleptic-induced pseudoparkinsonian side effects. The assumption that psychosis is related to the A-10 system is made by exclusion. Evidence also indicates that clozapine may differentially block DA pathways. Specifically, it seems to act on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system (A-10), while being relatively inactive in the striatal system (A-9) however, this remains controversial. Chronic administration of clozapine decreases the firing rate of A-10 mesocortical tract dopamine neurons... 

The mesolimbic dopamine pathway projects from dopaminergic cell bodies in the ventral tegmental area of the brainstem to axon terminals in limbic areas of the brain, such as the nucleus accumbens (Fig. 10—8). This pathway is thought to have an important role in emotional behaviors, especially auditory hallucinations but also delusions and thought disorder (Fig. 10—9)-... 

The reinforcing actions of nicotine are very similar to those of cocaine and amphetamine, since dopaminergic cells in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway receive direct nicotinic cholinergic input, which is stimulated by cigarette smoking (Figs. 

The first stage, libido, is linked to desire for sex, or sex drive, and is hypothetically a dopaminergic phenomenon mediated by the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward center (Fig. 14—1). This pathway has already been discussed in Chapter 13 and is well known for being the site of action of drugs of abuse as well as the site of... 

Fig. 19.3 Sagittal brain section illustrating dopaminergic pathways. I. Mesolimbic pathway (overactive in psychotic illness according to the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia).VTA= ventrotegmental area. 2. Nigrostriatal pathway (involved in motor control, underactive in Parkinson s Disease and associated with extrapyramidal motor symptoms). 3. Tuberoinfundibular pathway (inhibits prolactin release from the hypothalamus).

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