Multiple cholinergic receptor subtypes coordinate dual modulation of acetylcholine on anterior and posterior paraventricular thalamic neurons

In this study, we used fluorescence in  situ hybridization, slice electrophysiology, and pharmacological tools to reveal a differential expression of cholinergic receptor subtypes and modulation of acetylcholine (ACh) in both anterior and posterior PVT. Our results indicate that ACh predominantly excites the anterior PVT with a comparab ly higher level of excitatory cholinergic receptors but inhibits the posterior PVT neurons with more inhibitory cholinergic receptors. This finding is important in understanding a potential role of PVT cholinergic signaling for the control of motivated behaviors. AbstractParaventricular thalamus (PVT) plays important roles in the regulation of emotion and motivation through connecting many brain structures including the midbrain and the limbic system. Although acetylcholine (ACh) neurons of the midbrain were reported to send projections to PVT, little is known about how cholinergic signaling regulates PVT neurons. Here, we used both RNAscope and slice patch-clamp recordings to characterize cholinergic receptor expression and ACh modulation of PVT neurons in mice. We found ACh excited a majority of anterior PVT (aPVT) neurons but predominantly inhibited posterior PVT (pPVT) neurons. Compared to pPVT with more inhibitory M2 receptors, aPVT expressed higher levels of all excitatory receptor subtypes including nicotinic α4, α7, and muscarinic M1 and M3. The ACh-induced excitation was mimicked by nicotine and antagonized by selective blockers fo...
Source: Journal of Neurochemistry - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research