Synaptic and intrinsic plasticity in the ventral tegmental area after chronic cocaine

•Cocaine drives plasticity to enhance excitation of VTA dopamine neurons.•Dopamine release is decreased after chronic cocaine.•Neuromodulation therapies show promise in treating cocaine addiction. Cocaine exposure induces persistent changes in synaptic transmission and intrinsic properties of ventra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Current opinion in neurobiology Vol. 54; pp. 66 - 72
Main Authors:	Francis, Tanner Chase, Gantz, Stephanie C, Moussawi, Khaled, Bonci, Antonello
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2019
Subjects:	Animals Cocaine - pharmacology Cocaine-Related Disorders - pathology Dopamine - metabolism Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors - pharmacology Dopaminergic Neurons - drug effects Dopaminergic Neurons - physiology Humans Neuronal Plasticity - drug effects Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism Synapses - drug effects Ventral Tegmental Area - cytology Ventral Tegmental Area - drug effects Ventral Tegmental Area - metabolism
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Summary:	•Cocaine drives plasticity to enhance excitation of VTA dopamine neurons.•Dopamine release is decreased after chronic cocaine.•Neuromodulation therapies show promise in treating cocaine addiction. Cocaine exposure induces persistent changes in synaptic transmission and intrinsic properties of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons. Despite significant progress in understanding cocaine-induced plasticity, an effective treatment of cocaine addiction is lacking. Chronic cocaine potentiates excitatory and alters inhibitory transmission to dopamine neurons, induces dopamine neuron hyperexcitability, and reduces dopamine release in projection areas. Understanding how intrinsic and synaptic plasticity interact to control dopamine neuron firing and dopamine release could prove useful in the development of new therapeutics. In this review, we examine recent literature discussing cocaine-induced plasticity in the VTA and highlight potential therapeutic interventions.
ISSN:	0959-4388 1873-6882
DOI:	10.1016/j.conb.2018.08.013