RT Journal
A1 Massi, Léma
A1 Elezgarai, Izaskun
A1 Puente, Nagore
A1 Reguero, Leire
A1 Grandes, Pedro
A1 Manzoni, Olivier J.
A1 Georges, François
T1 Cannabinoid Receptors in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Control Cortical Excitation of Midbrain Dopamine Cells In Vivo
JF The Journal of Neuroscience 
JO The Journal of Neuroscience 
YR 2008 
FD October 15 
VO 28 
IS 42 
SP 10496 
OP 10508 
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2291-08.2008 
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/42/10496.abstract 
AB The endocannabinoid system is involved in multiple physiological functions including reward. Cannabinoids potently control the activity of midbrain dopamine cells, but the contribution of cortical projections in this phenomenon is unclear. We show that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) efficient relays cortical excitation to dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Anatomical and in vivo electrophysiological evidence demonstrate that excitatory projections arising exclusively from the infralimbic cortex converge on BNST neurons, which in turn project to and excite >80% VTA dopamine cells. At the ultrastructural level, cannabinoid type 1 receptors are detected within the BNST on axon terminals arising from the infralimbic cortex. We found that intra-BNST infusion of a cannabinoid agonist inhibits the firing of dopamine cells evoked by stimulation of the infralimbic cortex. Our data identify a new neuronal substrate for the actions of cannabinoids in the reward pathway.