PREFRONTAL CORTEX REGULATES BURST FIRING AND TRANSMITTER RELEASE IN RAT MESOLIMBIC DOPAMINE NEURONS STUDIED IN-VIVO

The influence of the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) on mesolimbic dopa mine activity was studied with electrophysiological techniques and in vivo voltammetry in the chloral hydrate-anesthetized male rat. Glutama te injected into the PFC selectively increased burst firing of single dopamine cells in the ventral tegmental area and enhanced the release of dopamine from nerve terminals in the nucleus accumbens. PFC injecti on of the local anesthetic lidocaine produced the opposite effects on burst firing and terminal release. This selective modulation of the dy namic activity of mesolimbic dopamine neurons by the prefrontal cortex might be important in motivation, learning and schizophrenia.