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Environmental Modulations of the Number of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons in Adult Mice
Published on: January 20, 2015
Illumination controls differentiation of dopamine neurons regulating behaviour
Davide Dulcis1, Nicholas C Spitzer
1Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences and Center for Molecular Genetics, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, UCSD La Jolla, California 92093-0357, USA. ddulcis@biomail.ucsd.edu
Nature
|November 14, 2008
Summary
Environmental light exposure alters dopamine neuron numbers in Xenopus laevis larvae, influencing camouflage. This demonstrates how physiological activity shapes neurotransmitter expression and behavior post-embryonic development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroendocrinology
Background:
- Neurotransmitter specification is vital for neuronal communication and circuit formation.
- Both intrinsic genetic programs and neural activity influence neurotransmitter expression during development.
- The role of natural environmental stimuli in specifying neurotransmitter expression in neuronal populations remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether environmental stimuli, specifically light, influence neurotransmitter expression in specific neuronal populations.
- To examine the role of light-induced sensory input in regulating neurotransmitter plasticity in the developing brain.
- To understand the link between environmental cues, neuronal transmitter expression, and adaptive behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Studied neurons in the ventral suprachiasmatic nucleus of Xenopus laevis larvae.
- Manipulated light exposure to alter sensory input to the visual-pigmentary system.
- Assessed changes in the number of dopamine-expressing neurons.
- Correlated changes in neuron numbers with alterations in skin pigmentation and camouflage behavior.
Main Results:
- Altering light exposure significantly changed the number of dopamine-expressing neurons in a circuit-specific manner.
- This change in dopamine neuron number was dependent on neural activity.
- Newly differentiated dopamine neurons were found to regulate camouflage color changes in response to illumination.
- Physiological activity was shown to alter the number of behaviorally relevant amine-transmitter-expressing neurons post-embryonically.
Conclusions:
- Environmental light is a key stimulus that can specify neurotransmitter expression in developing neurons.
- Neural activity, driven by environmental cues, plays a critical role in shaping neuronal identity and function.
- These findings highlight a mechanism by which experience-dependent plasticity can lead to adaptive behavioral changes, with potential implications for cognitive states regulated by biogenic amines.
