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Published on: January 27, 2018
Dopamine modulates visual threat processing in the superior colliculus via D2 receptors
Quentin Montardy1,2, Zheng Zhou1,2,3, Lei Li1,2,4
1Shenzhen Key Lab of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen University Town, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Dopamine D2 receptors in the superior colliculus regulate innate defensive behaviors. Activating these neurons triggers defense, while inhibiting them reduces responses to threats, highlighting dopamine's role in survival instincts.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Biology
- Neuropharmacology
Background:
- Innate defensive responses are crucial for survival and involve the dopamine system.
- The superior colliculus (SC) is implicated in processing visual threats and defensive behaviors.
- Neurons expressing dopamine receptors (Drd1+ and Drd2+) exist within the SC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of SC neurons expressing dopaminergic receptors in innate defensive responses.
- To determine if specific dopamine receptor types in the SC modulate defensive behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Optogenetic activation and chemogenetic inhibition of SC Drd1+ and Drd2+ neurons.
- Pharmacological manipulation using the Drd2+ agonist quinpirole.
- Viral tracing to identify inputs to SC Drd2+ neurons, specifically from the locus coeruleus (LC).
Main Results:
- Optogenetic activation of SC Drd2+ neurons, but not Drd1+ neurons, elicited defensive behaviors.
- Inhibition of SC Drd2+ neurons reduced looming-induced defensive behaviors.
- Quinpirole pretreatment also decreased defensive behaviors, confirming the role of Drd2 receptors.
- SC Drd2+ neurons receive significant input from the locus coeruleus (LC).
Conclusions:
- Dopamine D2 receptors in the superior colliculus are essential for regulating innate defensive behaviors.
- The dopamine system, particularly through SC Drd2+ neurons, plays a sophisticated role in survival responses to threats.
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