Cited by 718Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchSleep and Wakefulness Research

Orexin A in the VTA Is Critical for the Induction of Synaptic Plasticity and Behavioral Sensitization to Cocaine

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Borgland, Stephanie L., Taha, Sharif A., Sarti, Federica, Fields, Howard L., Bonci, Antonello·2006·Neuron

Abstract

Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) represent a critical site of synaptic plasticity induced by addictive drugs. Orexin/hypocretin-containing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus project to the VTA, and behavioral studies have suggested that orexin neurons play an important role in motivation, feeding, and adaptive behaviors. However, the role of orexin signaling in neural plasticity is poorly understood. The present study shows that in vitro application of orexin A induces potentiation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated neurotransmission via a PLC/PKC-dependent insertion of NMDARs in VTA dopamine neuron synapses. Furthermore, in vivo administration of an orexin 1 receptor antagonist blocks locomotor sensitization to cocaine and occludes cocaine-induced potentiation of excitatory currents in VTA dopamine neurons. These results provide in vitro and in vivo evidence for a critical role of orexin signaling in the VTA in neural plasticity relevant to addiction.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.01.016

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  • Orexin facilitates LTP induction in VTA and hippocampus, directly and via LC noradrenergic release.

    “The wake-promoting neuropeptide orexin robustly facilitated LTP induction in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and in the hippocampus, directly and via LC noradrenergic release, respectively (115, 1296).”

    From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [115]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports that orexin A potentiates synaptic responses in VTA dopamine neurons and that blocking its receptor prevents induction of cocaine-associated synaptic potentiation. But the paper describes orexin-induced late-phase LTP as a possibility, rather than establishing that orexin robustly facilitates LTP induction. The hippocampal mechanism appears to belong to the sentence’s other citation, not this one. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • The nucleus accumbens shell is part of a neural loop including the lateral hypothalamus and the ventral tegmental area, with orexin neurons playing a key role.

    “The nucleus accumbens shell is thereby part of a neural loop including the lateral hypothalamus and the ventral tegmental area, with orexin neurons playing a key role ([7](#B7), [22](#B22), [77](#B77), [98](#B98), [115](#B115), [125](#B125), [175](#B175), [199](#B199)).”

    From Food reward, hyperphagia, and obesity (2011) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors
Borgland, S. L., Taha, S. A., Sarti, F., Fields, H. L., & Bonci, A.
Affiliations
University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
Bonci, Antonello
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2006-02
Volume
49
Issue
4
Pages
589-601
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2103848983
Cited by
718
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 66
FWCI
21.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA015096, 1R01DA15096-01)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
Keywords
orexin-A, ventral tegmental area, dopaminergic neurons, synaptic plasticity, cocaine sensitization, NMDA receptor potentiation, orexin-1 receptor, addiction, lateral hypothalamus, excitatory synaptic transmission
MeSH terms
Orexins, Cyclic AMP, Analysis of Variance, Anesthetics, Local, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Behavior, Animal, Benzoxazoles, Calcium Channel Blockers, Cocaine, Dopamine, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Interactions, Electric Stimulation, Enzyme Inhibitors, Immunohistochemistry, Lysine, Male, Motor Activity, Naphthyridines, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Neuropeptides, Protein Kinase C, Quinoxalines, Synapses, Thionucleotides, Time Factors, Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase, Urea, N-Methylaspartate, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Ventral Tegmental Area, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Rats, In Vitro Techniques

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