Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

8 p.

Publication Date

2-15-2012

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Biological Psychiatry

Source ISSN

0006-3223

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.10.017

Abstract

Background

Traditionally, norepinephrine has been associated with stress responses, whereas dopamine has been associated with reward. Both of these catecholamines are found within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a brain relay nucleus in the extended amygdala between cortical/limbic centers, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Despite this colocalization, little is known about subsecond catecholamine signaling in subregions of the BNST in response to salient stimuli.

Methods

Changes in extracellular catecholamine concentration in subregions of the BNST in response to salient stimuli were measured within the rat BNST with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes.

Results

A discrete subregional distribution of release events was observed for different catecholamines in this nucleus. In addition, rewarding and aversive tastants evoked inverse patterns of norepinephrine and dopamine release in the BNST. An aversive stimulus, quinine, activated noradrenergic signaling but inhibited dopaminergic signaling, whereas a palatable stimulus, sucrose, inhibited norepinephrine while causing dopamine release.

Conclusions

This reciprocal relationship, coupled with their different time courses, can provide integration of opposing hedonic states to influence response outputs appropriate for survival.

Comments

Accepted version. Biological Psychiatry, Vol. 71, No. 4 (February 15, 2012): 327–334. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.10.017. © 2012 Elsevier. Used with permission.

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