RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Photostimulation of VTA-IC dopaminergic inputs enhances the salience to consolidate aversive taste recognition memory via D1 receptors
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.11.19.469297
DO 10.1101/2021.11.19.469297
A1 E. Gil-Lievana
A1 G. Ramírez-Mejía
A1 O. Urrego-Morales
A1 J. Luis-Islas
A1 Ranier. Gutierrez
A1 F. Bermúdez-Rattoni
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/11/19/2021.11.19.469297.abstract
AB Taste memory involves storing information through plasticity changes in the neural network of taste, including the insular cortex (IC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), a critical provider of dopamine. Although a VTA-IC dopaminergic pathway has been demonstrated, its role to consolidate taste recognition memory remains poorly understood. We found that photostimulation of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA or VTA-IC dopaminergic terminals of TH-Cre mice increases the salience of a novel taste stimulus regardless of its hedonic value, without altering their taste palatability. Importantly, the inhibition of the D1-like receptor into the IC impairs the salience to facilitate consolidation of an aversive taste recognition memory. Finally, our results showed that VTA photostimulation improves the salience to consolidate a conditioned taste aversion memory through the D1-like receptor into the IC. It is concluded that the dopamine activity from the VTA into IC is required to increase the salience enabling the consolidation of a taste recognition memory. Notably, the D1-like receptor activity into the IC is required to consolidate both innate and learned aversive taste memories but not appetitive taste memory.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.