Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA.
Annu Rev Physiol. 2018 Feb 10;80:219-241. doi: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-021317-121615. Epub 2017 Sep 22.
In recent years, the population of neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra (SN) has been examined at multiple levels. The results indicate that the projections, neurochemistry, and receptor and ion channel expression in this cell population vary widely. This review centers on the intrinsic properties and synaptic regulation that control the activity of dopamine neurons. Although all dopamine neurons fire action potentials in a pacemaker pattern in the absence of synaptic input, the intrinsic properties that underlie this activity differ considerably. Likewise, the transition into a burst/pause pattern results from combinations of intrinsic ion conductances, inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs that differ among this cell population. Finally, synaptic plasticity is a key regulator of the rate and pattern of activity in different groups of dopamine neurons. Through these fundamental properties, the activity of dopamine neurons is regulated and underlies the wide-ranging functions that have been attributed to dopamine.
近年来，腹侧被盖区（VTA）和黑质（SN）中的神经元数量在多个层面上得到了研究。结果表明，该细胞群体的投射、神经化学、受体和离子通道表达差异很大。本综述集中于控制多巴胺神经元活性的内在特性和突触调节。尽管所有的多巴胺神经元在没有突触输入的情况下以起搏模式发射动作电位，但这种活动的内在特性有很大的不同。同样，从起搏模式转变为爆发/停顿模式是由内在离子电导、抑制性和兴奋性突触输入的组合产生的，而这些输入在细胞群体中是不同的。最后，突触可塑性是调节不同群体多巴胺神经元活动率和模式的关键调节因子。通过这些基本特性，多巴胺神经元的活动受到调节，从而产生了归因于多巴胺的广泛功能。
