A terminal button from Neuron X forms a synapse with a dendrite of Neuron Y. The

Question

A terminal button from Neuron X forms a synapse with a dendrite of Neuron Y. The synaptic junction occurs in the mesolimbic pathway. First, describe the process of communication between these cells under normal conditions. Next, describe how the presence of amphetamine will alter the normal communication. Remember to BE SPECIFIC and include all necessary details and appropriate terminology for full credit. (For example: what NT is most likely to be released from Neuron X? Does amphetamine act as an agonist or an antagonist?)

Explanation / Answer

The mesolimbic pathway is also called as reward pathway or dopaminergic pathway of the brain. This pathway connects the ventral tegmental area present in the midbrain to the forebrain containing ventral striatum of the basal ganglia (includes olfactory tubercle and the nucleus accumbens). The mesolimbic pathway is very importantto release dopamine for medicating pleasure and rewarding related motor function learning. However,dysfunctioning of this pathway and its associated neurons will leads to addiction problem which regularlydeveloped and mantained.

Thedopaminergic axon primerly terminates and projects accumbens nucleus in ventral striatum and exteding upto amygdala, stria terminalis, lateral septal area,and lateral hypothalamus. Natural compounds such as alchol, amphetamine, caffine, cocain, nicitine, phencyclidine,and opiates increases extracellular mesolimbic dopamine concentration. Moreover, amphetamine directly amplifies dopaminergic signal at postsynaptic mesolimbic dopamine by different synaptic mechanism. Therefore, amphetamines are known to increase dopamine levels by regulating the activity of glutamateand is called as agonist.

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