Stress-induced alterations in neurotensin, somatostatin and corticotropin-releasing factor in mesotelencephalic dopamine system regions

Ariel Y. Deutch, Andrew J. Bean, Garth Bissette, Charles B. Nemeroff, Richard J. Robbins, Robert H. Roth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of exposure to acute mild footshock stress on concentrations of neurotensin-, somatostatin-, and corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity (li) in mesotelencephalic dopamine system regions of the rat were examined. Mild stress exposure resulted in a selective and regionally specific increase in neurotensin-li concentrations in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), source of the dopaminergic innervation of the mesocortical and mesolimbic dopaminergic terminal fields. Concentrations of somatostatin- or corticotropin-releasing factor-li were not changed in any area examined. Levels of the dopamine metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, were increased only in the VTA and medial prefrontal cortex. These data suggest that neurotensin in the VTA may be involved in environmentally elicited activation of certain mesotelencephalic dopamine neurons.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)350-354
Number of pages5
JournalBrain Research
Volume417
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 11 1987

Keywords

  • Corticotropin-releasing factor
  • Dopamine
  • Neurotensin
  • Somatostatin
  • Stress
  • Ventral tegmental area

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Stress-induced alterations in neurotensin, somatostatin and corticotropin-releasing factor in mesotelencephalic dopamine system regions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this