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The lateral habenula is a brain region associated with behavioral changes and autonomic responses during psychological stress. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have identified the involvement of the dopaminergic system in the cardiovascular responses triggered by neuronal excitation in the lateral habenula. They further determined that the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain, which is the origin of dopamine neurons, plays a mediating role in this response.

Tsukuba, Japan—Under stress, animals change their behavior, such as through "fight or flight" or "freezing" response. Simultaneously, physiological responses essential for stress adaptation are triggered in the body. Cardiovascular regulation, including changes in blood pressure and heart rate, is a critical stress response.

Researchers have focused on the lateral habenula, a brain region where neurons are activated in response to stress. They investigated the neural mechanisms underlying cardiovascular responses by activating the lateral habenula in experiments using rats. Activation of the lateral habenula caused changes in blood pressure and heart rate. However, pharmacologically blocking of dopamine neurotransmission suppressed the blood pressure and heart rate changes induced by lateral habenula activation. Furthermore, these changes were also suppressed when the activity of the ventral tegmental area, which receives input from neurons in the lateral habenula, was pharmacologically inhibited. These results suggest that the cardiovascular responses caused by lateral habenula activation are mediated by the dopaminergic system, specifically by dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area.

Based on the findings of this study, further research into the neural mechanisms regulating cardiovascular responses during stress is expected to provide a better understanding of the behavioral changes induced by stress and the mechanisms that maintain homeostasis in the body.

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The research was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Kakenhi (19H03339, 22K19477, and 24K22082). YS was also supported by a Japan Science and Technology Agency scholarship SPRING (JPMJSP2124).

Original Paper

Title of original paper:

The dopaminergic system mediates the lateral habenula-induced autonomic cardiovascular responses

Journal:

Frontiers in Physiology

DOI:

10.3389/fphys.2024.1496726

Correspondence

Associate Professor KOGANEZAWA Tadachika
Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba

SATO Yuma
Doctoral Program in Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba

Related Link

Institute of Medicine