Hot Off the Press – November 29, 2018. The neural mechanisms underlying dopamine neuron degeneration in Parkinson’s disease are largely unknown. In this study, we found that selective deletion of a vesicular glutamate transporter (VgluT2) in dopamine neurons led to a significant increase in dopamine neuron toxicity to the neurotoxin MPTP via a BDNF-dependent mechanism,… [Read More]
Archives for 2018
Science-Based Actions Can Help Address the Opioid Crisis.
Reviews To Read – November 29, 2018. This commentary on the opioid crisis was written by two NIDA IRP investigators (clinical investigator David Epstein and preclinical investigator Yavin Shaham), along with former Clinical Director Markus Heilig. It challenges misconceptions about the nature of the crisis, and it suggests solutions that are–as the authors say–“probably not… [Read More]
Volitional social interaction prevents drug addiction in rat models.
Hot Off the Press – November 19, 2018. A new study published in Nature Neuroscience finds that social interactions can have a profound effect on behaviors related to addiction, and on the brain’s response to drug-associated cues. These findings have implications for people with substance use disorders (SUDs), because it suggests that social interaction can… [Read More]
Useful Info – November 2018
OECD Services Dr. Heishman and Dr. Pfeiffer are available for services such as:Reviews for CVs, resumes, personal statements and essays for medical or graduate school, etc. Want to get prepared for a graduate or medical school interview, they can help set up a mock interview to improve your personal presentation! Contact either Dr. Heishman or… [Read More]
Movies To Check Out – November 2018
BEAUTIFUL BOY Director: Felix Van Groeningen Release date: October 12, 2018 (USA) Starring: Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet, Maura Tierney and Amy Ryan Rating: R Synopsis: Teenager Nicolas Sheff seems to have it all — good grades, editor of the school newspaper, actor, artist and athlete. When Nic’s addiction to meth threatens to destroy him, his desperate… [Read More]
Get To Know Your PI’s!
Dr. Carl Lupica Dr. Carl Lupica is a PI and Chief of the Electrophysiology Research Section here at NIDA! His work includes studying the long-term adaptations of THC exposure on the brain using in vivo, and ex vivo electrophysiology. Additionally, his lab is interested in understanding the effects of abused drugs on cognition and drug… [Read More]
Community Outreach & Professional Events – November 2018
Want to get involved? SACNAS The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanic and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) is an inclusive association that aims to increase representation of minorities in careers and positions of leadership in STEM fields. The NIH organized a chapter which holds its activities in the Bethesda campus. Recently, we started a NIH-chapter… [Read More]
Post Bac Spotlight – November 2018
Andrea Maxwell, B.S. Post Bac Research Lunch Presentation: ““Preliminary evidence for accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation as a treatment for cocaine use disorder – brief overview of a clinical trial investigating use of noninvasive brain stimulation for addiction” Post Bac Info: Andi received her B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan in… [Read More]
November 2018 Postbac Newsletter Contents
November 2018
Selective Brain Distribution and Distinctive Synaptic Architecture of Dual Glutamatergic-GABAergic Neurons
Featured Paper of the Month – Novermber 2018
Published in Cell Reports by Root, David H; Zhang, Shiliang; Barker, David J; Miranda-Barrientos, Jorge; Liu, Bing; Wang, Hui-Ling; Morales, Marisela
Root and Zhang et al. (from Dr. Morales’ lab) identified throughout the brain concentrated populations of glutamate and GABA co-transmitting neurons in ventral tegmental area, entopeduncular, and supramammillary nuclei. Single axon terminals from these neurons form a common synaptic architecture that co-transmit glutamate and GABA from distinct synaptic vesicles at independent asymmetric or symmetric synapses…