Cited by 61Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorCellular transport and secretion

Synaptic and circuit functions of multitransmitter neurons in the mammalian brain

Open access
Wallace, Michael L., Sabatini, Bernardo L.·2023·Neuron

Abstract

Neurons in the mammalian brain are not limited to releasing a single neurotransmitter but often release multiple neurotransmitters onto postsynaptic cells. Here, we review recent findings of multitransmitter neurons found throughout the mammalian central nervous system. We highlight recent technological innovations that have made the identification of new multitransmitter neurons and the study of their synaptic properties possible. We also focus on mechanisms and molecular constituents required for neurotransmitter corelease at the axon terminal and synaptic vesicle, as well as some possible functions of multitransmitter neurons in diverse brain circuits. We expect that these approaches will lead to new insights into the mechanism and function of multitransmitter neurons, their role in circuits, and their contribution to normal and pathological brain function.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes evidence that many mammalian central nervous system neurons release multiple small-molecule neurotransmitters, with mechanisms ranging from co-packaging in the same synaptic vesicle to independent vesicle pools and release sites. It argues that identifying these multitransmitter neurons and their release mechanisms is necessary to understand circuit function, plasticity, and behavior.

Key findings

  • A screen for GABA/glutamate coreleasing neurons found 30 different brain regions with neurons expressing genes required for vesicular packaging of both GABA (vGAT; *Slc32a1*) and glutamate (vGluT2/3; *Slc17a6/Slc17a8*), though cotransmission was physiologically confirmed in only some regions, notably SuM, VTA, and EP.
  • Mechanisms differ by transmitter pair: EP Sst GABA/glutamate synapses showed optical quantal responses consistent only with co-packaging into the same vesicle; VTA→LHb terminals had >60% of axon terminals positive for both vGAT and vGluT2, but vesicles were largely vGluT2- or vGAT-positive and rarely copositive. ACh/glutamate can be co-packaged with transporter synergy, GABA/glycine compete for vGAT, and DA/GABA release from dopamine neurons requires vMAT2 rather than vGAT.
  • Cotransmission can produce frequency-dependent and target-specific signaling: mHb→IPN synapses release glutamate reliably with single stimuli, while nicotinic ACh responses require prolonged stimulation (50 Hz, 5 s; or 20–50 Hz), and cortical VIP/ChAT+ neurons use ACh or GABA depending on postsynaptic target.
  • The review proposes circuit functions including multiple timescales of postsynaptic control (DA effects delayed by ~500 ms versus GABA/glutamate currents at 2–4 ms), frequency-dependent volume transmission, and signed/graded synapses for value learning in LHb.

Methods

  • Review article, not a primary experimental study; it synthesizes recent findings on activity-dependent small-molecule cotransmission in the mammalian CNS and excludes developmental neurotransmitter switching and corelease in other model organisms.
  • Evidence is drawn from cited genetic, single-cell sequencing, in situ hybridization, EM/immunogold, immunoprecipitation, optogenetic, electrophysiological, optical quantal, and behavioral studies across regions including SuM, VTA, EP/GPi, spinal cord, auditory brainstem, cerebellum, striatum, basal forebrain, mHb, raphe, retina, and cortex.
  • Main analysis is narrative synthesis and model-building, with tables of neurotransmitters and vesicular transporters and figures illustrating co-packaging, independent release, and hypothesized circuit functions.

Limitations

  • Stated: most single-cell sequencing analyses are performed on populations, so individual neurons must be confirmed to express all genes needed for release of more than one neurotransmitter; off-target Cre expression in mouse lines can lead to misinterpretation, and in situ transcriptional plus electrophysiological confirmation is critical.
  • Stated: classical minimal stimulation is confounded when axons from many presynaptic neuron types overlap; optogenetic targeting helps but requires careful spatiotemporal calibration to stimulate individual axons/synapses.
  • Stated and evident: many mechanistic questions remain unresolved, including how transporters are trafficked to separate vesicle pools, how multitransmitter properties are maintained through the vesicle cycle, how postsynaptic receptors are organized at GABA/glutamate synapses, and the identity of the hypothetical error signal for LHb value learning; as a review, it reports no new primary data.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.06.003

Cites

142 of 142 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 169 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Interpretationnone given

    Mammalian neurons often release more than one neurotransmitter onto postsynaptic cells, rather than only a single transmitter.

    “Neurons in the mammalian brain are not limited to releasing a single neurotransmitter but often release multiple neurotransmitters onto postsynaptic cells.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Premisecitation

    New studies show that many neuronal subtypes in the brain have the molecular machinery needed to release more than one neurotransmitter.

    “exciting new studies exemplify the diverse array of neuronal subtypes in the brain that have the molecular machinery necessary to release more than one neurotransmitter.”
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    • cites [5][6][7][8][9]

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  • Premisecitation

    In multitransmitter neurons, differential sensitivity of vesicular transporters to intravesicular pH or membrane potential is important for co-packaging.

    “In multitransmitter neurons, where vesicular packaging of more than one neurotransmitter occurs, it is important to consider how vesicular transporters are differentially sensitive to intravesicular factors such as pH or membrane potential.16”
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  • Study design and conductreasoning

    Concluding that a neuron can corelease requires confirmation that both neurotransmitter accumulation and vesicular packaging occur.

    “Therefore, concluding that a neuron can only release one or more neurotransmitters (i.e., that it can corelease), requires confirmation that both steps occur.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Vesicular release of a neurotransmitter requires presynaptic accumulation of the signaling molecule to a concentration sufficient for packaging into a vesicle and release.
  • Premisereasoning

    Each component of accumulation and packaging can be independently modulated to restrict or enhance release of a transmitter.

    “Each of these components can also be independently modulated or modified to restrict or enhance release of a transmitter, underscoring their importance to neurotransmission.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 49
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 4
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    Interpretationreasoning

    Neuroscience can now confidently identify when and where cotransmission occurs and reveal its contribution to normal and pathological brain function.

    “We conclude that neuroscience is now at a stage where we can confidently identify when and where cotransmission oc-curs in the brain, as well as reveal its contribution to normal and pathological brain function.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisenone given

    Recent technological advances have made it possible to identify new multitransmitter neurons and study their synaptic properties.

    “We highlight recent technological innovations that have made the identification of new multitransmitter neurons and the study of their synaptic properties possible.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisereasoning

    Knowledge of these components allows precise genetic perturbation of corelease by manipulating each neurotransmitter individually.

    “Finally, knowledge of these components allows precise genetic perturbation of corelease by manipulating each neurotransmitter individually.”
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    Premisecitation

    Intersectional genetic and viral tools allow manipulation of specific neuronal populations suspected of neurotransmitter corelease and enable functional analysis of cotransmitting neurons in vitro and in vivo.

    “new ''intersectional'' genetic and viral tools permit manipulation of specific neuronal populations suspected of neurotransmitter corelease 10 and enable functional analysis of cotransmitting neurons in vitro and in vivo.11,12”
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    Premisecitation

    Immunogold EM indicates that single axon terminals make both symmetric and asymmetric synapses, suggesting segregation of vesicles into GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses within the same axon and bouton.

    “Interestingly, immunogold EM also indicated that single axon terminals make both symmetric (GABAergic) and asymmetric (glutamatergic) synapses (see Figure 5 in Root et al. 33 ), suggesting segregation of synaptic vesicles into glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses within the same axon and bouton.”
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    Premisecitation

    LHb-projecting EP/GPi neurons were later found to transmit both glutamate and GABA and to be capable of exciting and inhibiting LHb neurons.

    “Later, they were found to simultaneously transmit both glutamate and GABA and to be capable of both exciting and inhibiting LHb neurons 40,26 (Figure 1A).”
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    Premisecitation

    Glutamate is an anion at neutral pH, and its loading into vesicles produces charge and proton changes opposite to vMAT and VAChT.

    “Glutamate is an anion at neutral pH, and loading of glutamate into vesicles produces a change in charge and H+ opposite to vMAT and VAChT.20”
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    Premisecitation

    Glycine receptor kinetics are faster than GABA receptor kinetics, producing IPSCs with fast and slow components.

    “The kinetics of glycine receptors are faster than those of GABA receptors, resulting in an inhibitory post synaptic current (IPSC) with fast and slow components.44,45,49”
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    Premisecitation

    These terminals arose from long-range supramammillary projections, and GABAergic and glutamatergic vesicles segregated into distinct pools and presynaptic terminals.

    “These studies found that these terminals arose from long-range projections from the SuM and provided evidence that the GABAergic and glutamatergic vesicles segregated into distinct pools and occupied distinct presynaptic terminals.28”
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    Premisecitation

    Immunogold EM shows that more than 60% of VTA axon terminals in LHb are positive for both vGAT and vGluT2, with smaller subsets positive for one transporter.

    “Immunogold EM indicates that >60% of the axon terminals in LHb from VTA are positive for both vGAT and vGluT2, while smaller subsets label for one or the other transporter.”
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    Premisecitation

    The structure, organization, and regulation of postsynaptic receptors and related molecular constituents of GABA/glutamate synapses remain unknown but appear specialized within LHb due to low PSD-95 expression.

    “The structure, organization, and regulation of the postsynaptic receptors and related molecular constituents of GABA/glutamate synapses remain unknown but appear specialized within LHb due to low expression of the glutamatergic postsynaptic-terminal-associated MAGUK PSD-95.25”
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    Premisecitation

    EP/GPi has diverse neuronal populations and functions, primarily via dense projections targeting the LHb.

    “However, EP/GPi has diverse neuronal populations and functions, the latter primarily via its dense projections targeting the LHb.[35][36][37]”
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    Interpretationown data

    These results support a model in which individual synaptic vesicles express both vGAT and vGluT2 and release GABA and glutamate simultaneously to activate postsynaptic receptors across the cleft.

    “These results support a model in which individual synaptic vesicles express both vGAT and vGluT2, and GABA/glutamate are released simultaneously to activate postsynaptic receptors across the synaptic cleft.”
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    Premisecitation

    These VTA neurons monosynaptically connect to lateral habenula neurons and cotransmit GABA and glutamate onto individual LHb neurons.

    “They monosynaptically connect to neurons within the lateral habenula (mostly medial subregions) and cotransmit Cotransmission: process by which two (or more) neurotransmitters are synaptically released in response to an action potential and detected by receptors on the postsynaptic”
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    Interpretationcitation

    The excitatory/inhibitory ratio at each synapse can be adjusted independently by regulating vesicular transporter activity or postsynaptic receptor composition.

    “The excitatory/ inhibitory ratio at each synapse can be adjusted independently by regulating the activity of the vesicular transporters 26,41 or adjusting the composition of postsynaptic receptors.”
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    Premisecitation

    LHb-projecting EP/GPi neurons were first suggested to be glutamatergic, purely excitatory, and to signal aversive/negative outcomes.

    “Due to immunohistochemical and behavioral findings, LHb-projecting EP/GPi neurons were first suggested to be glutamatergic, purely excitatory, and signal aversive/negative outcomes.38,39”
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    Premisecitation

    GABA/glutamate coreleasing neurons in mouse EP and human GPi are marked by Sst expression, enabling specific targeting.

    “GABA/glutamate coreleasing neurons in the EP of mice and GPi in humans were found to be marked by expression of Sst, facilitating specific targeting of these neurons in functional studies.40”
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    Premisecitation

    By adulthood, GABA and glycine are both inhibitory, activating chloride-permeable ligand-gated ion channels and hyperpolarizing postsynaptic targets.

    “By adulthood, both transmitters are inhibitory, activating their cognate chloride permeable ligand-gated ion channels, and hyperpolarizing their postsynaptic targets.48”
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    Premisecitation

    vGAT acts as a GABA/H+ antiporter rather than a GABA/Cl cotransporter and depends on both pH gradient and membrane potential.

    “Studies conclude that vGAT acts as a GABA/H+ antiporter rather than a GABA/ClÀ cotransporter and depends on both DpH and DJ.23,24”
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    Premisecitation

    vMAT1/2 and VAChT transport positively charged neurotransmitters in exchange for two protons and depend more on the pH gradient than on membrane potential.

    “Vesicular transporters for monoamines (vMAT1/2) and Ach (VAChT) transport positively charged neurotransmitters in exchange for 2H+ and are more dependent on DpH than DJ.18,19”
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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Data suggest a complementary or synergistic relationship between glutamate and 5-HT release from 5-HT/vGluT3+ neurons, with direct effects on cortical and midbrain structures.

    “Together, these data suggest a complementary or synergistic relationship between glutamate and 5-HT release from 5-HT/vGluT3+ neurons, with direct effects on cortical and midbrain structures.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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    Premisecitation

    Glutamate release onto SPNs activates ionotropic glutamate receptors with distinct AMPA/NMDA ratios compared with cortico-striatal synapses, suggesting distinct plasticity rules.

    “Glutamate release onto SPNs activates postsynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors with distinct AMPA/NMDA ratios compared with cortico-striatal synapses, suggesting distinct plasticity rules from these disparate inputs.60”
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    Premisecitation

    Single-cell sequencing and ISH confirmed that these medial habenula neurons reside in the ventral and ventrolateral subregion and form a genetically distinct subtype.

    “Single-cell sequencing and in-situ hybridization (ISH) studies confirmed that these neurons reside in the ventral and ventrolateral subregion of the mHb and form a genet-ically distinct subtype.58,59”
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    Premisecitation

    Further studies suggested that SACs also express GABA synthetic enzymes and can release GABA.

    “Further studies suggested that these cells also express GABA synthetic enzymes and are capable of releasing GABA.84,85”
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    Premisecitation

    5-HT/vGluT3+ neurons from the dorsal raphe target the VTA, make asymmetric synapses, and monosynaptically release glutamate to excite accumbal-projecting dopamine neurons.

    “5-HT/vGluT3+ neurons from the dorsal raphe also target the VTA, where they make asymmetric synapses and monosynaptically release glutamate to excite accumbal-projecting dopamine neurons.79”
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    Premisecitation

    GABA release from SACs is restricted to dendrites of postsynaptic DSGCs' null direction, whereas Ach release is not spatially restricted.

    “Release of GABA from SACs is restricted to the dendrites of the postsynaptic DSGCs' null direction, whereas release of Ach is not spatially restricted.”
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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    These axonally induced action potentials can drive DA release in vitro and have been hypothesized to locally control DA release within the striatum.

    “These axonally induced APs are capable of driving DA release in vitro 61 and have been hypothesized to act as a mechanism for local control of DA release within the striatum.[64][65][66][67][68]”
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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Competition for vesicular transport may be a general feature of co-packaging multitransmitter neurons, likely lowering the amount of each neurotransmitter loaded per vesicle compared with one-transmitter vesicles.

    “This may be a general feature of multitransmitter neurons that exhibit co-packaging, as it likely puts a lower limit on the amount of each neurotransmitter loaded into a single vesicle when compared with one vesicle with one transmitter.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
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    Premisecitation

    Deletion of either Tph1 or vGluT3 from 5-HT/vGluT3+ neurons increases anxiety-like behaviors, suggesting that disrupting signaling from either transmitter has similar consequences.

    “In addition, deletion of either serotonin synthetic enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1) or vGluT3 (Slc18a8) from 5-HT/vGluT3+ neurons results in increased anxiety-like behaviors, suggesting that disrupting signaling from either transmitter has similar consequences.78,80”
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    Premisecitation

    The proportion of postsynaptic layer 1 interneurons receiving an EPSC or an IPSC differed significantly, and most received only one type of input.

    “The proportion of postsynaptic layer 1 interneurons receiving an EPSC or an IPSC differed significantly, and most received only one type of input.”
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    Interpretationnone given

    Separate neuronal subpopulations can cotransmit Ach and GABA; these Ach-releasing neurons form nonoverlapping populations, reside in different brain regions, and use distinct synaptic mechanisms for corelease.

    “In contrast to neurons that cotransmit Ach and glutamate, separate neuronal subpopulations are capable of cotransmitting Ach and GABA.These two types of Ach-releasing neurons form nonoverlapping neuronal populations, reside in different brain regions, and have distinct synaptic mechanisms for corelease of neurotransmitters.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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    Premisecitation

    At mHb-IPN synapses, AMPA and NMDA receptors are activated by single action potentials, but nicotinic Ach receptors are activated only slowly after prolonged 50 Hz 5 s stimulation, indicating different transmission modes for glutamate and Ach.

    “Although postsynaptic AMPA and NMDA receptors are activated by single action potentials (APs) in the presynaptic axon, nicotinic Ach receptors (nAchRs) were only activated slowly following prolonged (50 Hz, 5 s) stimulation of inputs, indicating that glutamate and Ach have different transmission modes.56”
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    Premisecitation

    Dorsal raphe 5-HT/vGluT3+ neurons project widely throughout the cortex and increase or decrease their activity to reward and punish, respectively.

    “Those in the dorsal raphe project widely throughout the cortex and increase or decrease their activity to reward and punish, respectively.76,78”
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    Premisecitation

    Direct recordings from DA axon terminals in the striatum determined that Ach release from CINs onto dopamine axons primarily activates nAchRs and can locally induce action potentials.

    “Heroic electrophysiological experiments that intracellularly recorded directly from DA axon terminals in the striatum unambiguously determined that synaptic release of Ach from CINs onto dopamine axons primarily activates nAchRs and is even capable of locally inducing APs.62”
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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Synaptic potency depends not only on postsynaptic receptor number but also on presynaptic transmitter concentrations and vesicular loading.

    “These results suggest that the potency of a synapse depends not only on the number of postsynaptic receptors but also on the concentrations of presynaptic transmitter and how much transmitter is loaded into the vesicle.”
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    Premisecitation

    Several groups found that vGluT and VAChT function synergistically, and depletion of one transporter or neurotransmitter also depletes loading and release of the other.

    “Interestingly, several groups have found that vGluT and VAChT function synergistically and that depletion of one transporter or neurotransmitter also depletes loading and release of the other.21,22,63,69”
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    Premisecitation

    Ach and GABA release from SACs are differentially sensitive to calcium concentration and calcium channel antagonists, suggesting separate vesicle populations.

    “Ach and GABA release are differentially sensitive to calcium concentration and calcium channel antagonists, suggesting separate vesicle populations.86”
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    Premisecitation

    The GABA-mediated IPSC was ablated by selective genetic deletion of Slc32a1 in Chat-Cre+ neurons, while the nicotinic EPSC persisted, indicating that Ach loading did not depend on GABA vesicular transport.

    “The GABA-mediated IPSC could be ablated by selective genetic deletion of Slc32a1 (vGAT) in Chat-Cre+ neurons, while the nicotinic excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) persisted, indicating that the loading of Ach did not depend on GABA vesicular transport.89”
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    Premisecitation

    In mouse and rat medial prefrontal cortex, cholinergic transmission from VIP/ChAT+ neurons onto layer 1 interneurons occurs with higher probability and evokes larger postsynaptic responses.

    “as cholinergic output from VIP/ChAT+ neurons to layer 1 interneurons in the mouse and rat medial prefrontal cortex occurs at a higher probability and produces a larger postsynaptic response.97,98”
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    Premisecitation

    DA release affects postsynaptic cells much more slowly, with about a 500-ms delay, than GABA or glutamate synaptic currents, which last 2-4 ms.

    “DA release affects the postsynaptic cell considerably more slowly ($500-ms delay) than the synaptic currents generated by either cotransmitted GABA or glutamate (2-4 ms).115,123”
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    Premisecitation

    vGluT2+ and vMAT2+ vesicles segregate into distinct vesicle populations and separate axonal boutons or microdomains.

    “Immunogold EM studies and immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that vGluT2+ and vMAT2+ vesicles segregate into distinct vesicle populations and even separate axonal boutons/microdomains, 111”
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    Interpretationcitation

    The regional differences in VIP/ChAT+ transmission may arise from a distinct population of VIP-negative cholinergic interneurons in mPFC.

    “However, these differences may be due to the existence of a unique population of VIPÀ CINs in this region.97”
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    Interpretationreasoning

    vGluT3+ retinal amacrine cells simultaneously excite contrast-activated cells and inhibit contrast-suppressed cells, giving them a dual role in retinal circuits.

    “Therefore, vGluT3+ retinal amacrine cells simultaneously excite cells activated by contrast and inhibit cells suppressed by contrast, performing a dual role in retinal circuits.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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    Premisecitation

    vGluT2 can stimulate monoamine uptake into synaptic vesicles by vMAT2 by lowering intravesicular pH, providing a mechanism for reduced DA release when vGluT2 is absent.

    “vGluT2 was capable of stimulating monoamine uptake into synaptic vesicles by vMAT2 by lowering the intravesicular pH, providing a mechanism for reduced DA release in the absence of vGluT2.113”
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    Premisecitation

    Bipolar cortical interneurons expressing VIP and ChAT were first identified by immunohistochemistry in rodents and account for about one third of all VIP+ cortical neurons.

    “Bipolar cortical interneurons expressing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and ChAT were first identified using immunohistochemistry in rodents and account for $1/3 of all VIP+ cortical neurons.92,93”
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    Interpretationreasoning

    At the mHb-to-IPN synapse, glutamate acts as a temporally precise point-to-point transmitter, while Ach acts as a volume transmitter that activates postsynaptic receptors mainly at high firing rates.

    “therefore, glutamate acts as the temporally precise, point-to-point transmitter, while Ach acts as a volume transmitter, only accumulating enough to activate postsynaptic receptors at high presynaptic firing rates.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
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    Premisecitation

    Olfactory-bulb-projecting cholinergic neurons from the basal forebrain cotransmit GABA and Ach onto deep short axon cells within the internal plexiform layer, reinforcing pervasive GABA cotransmission from this population.

    “More recently, olfactorybulb-projecting cholinergic neurons from the basal forebrain were also shown to cotransmit GABA and Ach onto deep, short axon cells within the internal plexiform layer of the bulb, reinforcing the pervasive nature of GABA cotransmission from this population of cholinergic neurons throughout the brain.91”
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    Premisecitation

    GAT1 is both necessary and sufficient to sustain GABA release in DANs.

    “only the GABA transporter, GAT1, is both necessary and sufficient to sustain GABA release in DANs”
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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Cholinergic EPSCs from VIP/ChAT+ neurons were sparse but primarily detected in layer 1 interneurons and other VIP cells.

    “Cholinergic EPSCs were sparse, but primarily detected in layer 1 interneurons and other VIP cells.97”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [97] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Ventral midbrain dopamine neurons are diverse, project to different regions, and can release neurotransmitters besides dopamine.

    “Dopamine neurons of the ventral midbrain (DANs) comprise a diverse population of neurons targeting different regions and capable of releasing multiple neurotransmitters in addition to dopamine.31,103,104”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [31] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [103] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [104] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    DA release, via cAMP regulation, controls PKA activity in SPNs over tens of seconds, with differential effects on D1 and D2 receptor-expressing neurons.

    “Real-time monitoring of the kinase activity in behaving animals indicates that DA release, via regulation of intracellular cAMP production, controls the activity of protein kinase A (PKA) in SPNs over the timescale of tens of seconds, with differential effects on neurons that express type 1 or type 2 dopamine receptors.122”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [122] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    LHb neurons increase their activity when adverse outcomes occur or are predicted and provide disynaptic inhibitory input to VTA DANs.

    “LHb neurons increase their activity when adverse outcomes occur or are predicted and provide a disynaptic inhibitory (-GABAergic) input to VTA DANs.125,126”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [125] source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [126] source

      Not checked in the free run.

52 of 52
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many, if not all, neurons release more than one neurotransmitter.

    “as many, if not all, neurons release more than one neurotransmitter.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Vesicular release of a neurotransmitter requires presynaptic accumulation of the signaling molecule to a concentration sufficient for packaging into a vesicle and release.

    “Vesicular release of a neurotransmitter requires a neuron to accumulate the signaling molecule in the presynaptic terminal to a concentration that permits it to be packaged into a vesicle and released.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Neurons can take up and package neurotransmitters through atypical pathways, making corelease determination sometimes difficult.

    “Importantly, neurons can uptake and package neurotransmitters using atypical pathways, making this process sometimes difficult.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    VTA DA neurons compute reward-prediction error as the experienced value of an activity minus its predicted value.

    “VTA DAN neurons calculate reward-prediction error (RPE)-the difference between the experienced value of an activity and that which had been predicted.”
4 of 4

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • It is known that in many midbrain dopamine neurons (VTA and SNc), Aldh1a1 is used for synthesizing GABA in the absence of Gad1 or Gad2, and Slc18a2 is used for co-release of dopamine and GABA in the absence of Slc32a1.

    “It is known that in many midbrain dopamine neurons (in VTA and SNc), Aldh1a1 is used for synthesizing GABA in the absence of Gad1 or Gad2, and Slc18a2 is used for co-release of dopamine and GABA in the absence of Slc32a157.”

    From A high-resolution transcriptomic and spatial atlas of cell types in the whole mouse brain (2023) · cites this paper as [57]

    The DA/GABA section (page not provided) says dopamine neurons release GABA without canonical GAD65/67 synthesis or vGAT packaging, and that vMAT2 packages GABA into vesicles. But it does not establish that Aldh1a1 synthesizes GABA within those neurons: it says that mechanism was proposed, while cell-type-specific evidence points to an effect in non-dopaminergic cells instead. (LLM, conf=0.91)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Many neurotransmitter co-release patterns had been documented previously.

    “Although many of these neurotransmitter co-release patterns had been documented previously55–57”
  • The assignment of neurotransmitter types based on synthesizing enzymes and transporter genes is conservative; there may be even more diversity in neurotransmitter co-release patterns if other unconventional transmitter release routes are considered.

    “Of note, our assignment of neurotransmitter types based on synthesizing enzymes and transporter genes is conservative; there may be even more diversity in neurotransmitter co-release patterns if other unconventional transmitter release routes are considered57,118.”

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Two different gene names are given for vGluT3

    Minor

    The serotonin section identifies the gene for vGluT3 as Slc18a8, but an earlier passage identifies it as Slc17a8. Table 1 also lists Slc17a8 for vGluT3.

1 of 1

Cites

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Cited by

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Authors
Wallace, M. L., & Sabatini, B. L.
Affiliations
  • Boston University (US)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Wallace, Michael L.
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-10
Volume
111
Issue
19
Pages
2969-2983
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4384564286
Cited by
59
References
141
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 4
FWCI
2.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Whitehall Foundation
  • NINDS (R01NS103226)
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (IG256AX89O, R01NS103226)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular transport and secretion
Keywords
synaptic vesicles, axon terminals, brain circuits, synaptic properties, central nervous system, neuromodulation, neurotoxicity
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Central Nervous System, Mammals, Synaptic Transmission, Neurons, Neurotransmitter Agents, Glutamic Acid

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

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