Functional Interaction Between GABAergic Neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area and Serotonergic Neurons in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus

GABAergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have brain-wide projections and are involved in multiple behavioral and physiological functions. Here, we revealed the responsiveness of Gad67+ neurons in VTA (VTA(Gad67+)) to various neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of sleep/wakefulness by slice patch clamp recording. Among the substances tested, a cholinergic agonist activated, but serotonin, dopamine and histamine inhibited these neurons. Dense VTA(Gad67+) neuronal projections were observed in brain areas regulating sleep/wakefulness, including the central amygdala (CeA), dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), and locus coeruleus (LC). Using a combination of electrophysiology and optogenetic studies, we showed that VTA(Gad67+) neurons inhibited all neurons recorded in the DRN, but did not inhibit randomly recorded neurons in the CeA and LC. Further examination revealed that the serotonergic neurons in the DRN (DRN5-HT) were monosynaptically innervated and inhibited by VTA(Gad67+) neurons. All recorded DRN5-HT neurons received inhibitory input from VTA(Gad67+) neurons, while only one quarter of them received inhibitory input from local GABAergic neurons. Gad67+ neurons in the DRN (DRNGad67+) also received monosynaptic inhibitory input from VTA(Gad67+) neurons. Taken together, we found that VTA(Gad67+) neurons were integrated in many inputs, and their output inhibits DRN5-HT neurons, which may regulate physiological functions including sleep/wakefulness.

Automated summary

GABAergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are responsive to different neurotransmitters and play a role in regulating sleep/wakefulness. These neurons have projections in brain areas related to sleep/wakefulness and are activated by cholinergic agonists, but inhibited by serotonin, dopamine, and histamine. VTA(Gad67+) neurons inhibit neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), but not in the central amygdala (CeA) and locus coeruleus (LC). They also monosynaptically inhibit serotonergic neurons in the DRN (DRN5-HT).