Alterations in NMDAR-mediated signaling within the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus are associated with prenatal nicotine exposure.

Alterations in NMDAR-mediated signaling within the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus are associated with prenatal nicotine exposure. Neuropharmacology. 2019 Aug 19;:107744 Authors: Polli FS, Kohlmeier KA Abstract Cigarette smoking during pregnancy has been clinically associated with a variety of poor-behavioral outcomes for the exposed individuals, including higher risks for drug abuse and development of attention/deficit-hyperactive disorders (ADHD). Experimental studies support the hypothesis that nicotine might contribute to these risks, since prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) in rodents was associated with greater addiction liability, hyperactivity, social impairments and a wide range of emotional and cognitive deficits. Alterations of glutamate signaling within brain regions involved in behavioral circuits could contribute to these outcomes. The pontine laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT) exerts cholinergic modulation within the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and cortical-projecting thalamic centers and PNE-associated alterations in LDT glutamate signaling could impact cholinergic output to these LDT targets. We have previously demonstrated that PNE alters AMPA-mediated signaling within LDT neurons, and in the present investigation, we focused on changes of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) and presence of silent synapses as an indicator of metaplastic processes in LDT cells associated with PNE treatment. PNE was associated with ...
Source: Neuropharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Neuropharmacology Source Type: research