Dorsal Raphe Dual Serotonin-Glutamate Neurons Drive Reward by Establishing Excitatory Synapses on VTA Mesoaccumbens Dopamine Neurons

Abstract

Wang et al. identify the ultrastructural and molecular characteristics of synaptic connectivity between DR serotonin neurons and VTA dopamine neurons and determined the role of these connections in behavior. Their results indicate that the DR→VTA serotonergic neurons promote reward by the co-release of glutamate and activation of mesoaccumbens dopamine neurons.