Grant: Operating Grant

Neurons in the brain are usually characterized by the type of chemical transmitter molecules that they produce and release in the context of neuronal cummunication. However, recent work suggests that some neurons can produce and release more than one type of small chemical messengers. In the current project, we will study the capacity of dopamine-containing neurons to produce and package the amino acid transmitter glutamate. In particular, we will evaluate whether single neurons have the capacity to release dopamine and glutamate from the same or different axon terminals. In addition, we will use a genetic approach to prevent dopamine neurons from releasing glutamate and determine the impact of this on the activity and morphology of dopamine neurons. This work could help understand how dopamine neurons modify their properties in context of diseases such as Parkinson's, drug abuse and schizophrenia.