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Dorsal hippocampus to nucleus accumbens projections drive reinforcement via activation of accumbal dynorphin neurons

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  • Khairunisa Mohamad Ibrahim

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • Nicolas Massaly

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine
    University of California)

  • Hye-Jean Yoon

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • Rossana Sandoval

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • Allie J. Widman

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • Robert J. Heuermann

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine
    Washington University Pain Center)

  • Sidney Williams

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • William Post

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • Sulan Pathiranage

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • Tania Lintz

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • Azra Zec

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • Ashley Park

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine)

  • Waylin Yu

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine)

  • Thomas L. Kash

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine)

  • Robert W. Gereau

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine
    Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Jose A. Morón

    (Washington University Pain Center
    Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine
    Washington University in St. Louis
    Washington University in St. Louis)

Abstract

The hippocampus is pivotal in integrating emotional processing, learning, memory, and reward-related behaviors. The dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) is particularly crucial for episodic, spatial, and associative memory, and has been shown to be necessary for context- and cue-associated reward behaviors. The nucleus accumbens (NAc), a central structure in the mesolimbic reward pathway, integrates the salience of aversive and rewarding stimuli. Despite extensive research on dHPC→NAc direct projections, their sufficiency in driving reinforcement and reward-related behavior remains to be determined. Our study establishes that activating excitatory neurons in the dHPC is sufficient to induce reinforcing behaviors through its direct projections to the dorso-medial subregion of the NAc shell (dmNAcSh). Notably, dynorphin-containing neurons specifically contribute to dHPC-driven reinforcing behavior, even though both dmNAcSh dynorphin- and enkephalin-containing neurons are activated with dHPC stimulation. Our findings unveil a pathway governing reinforcement, advancing our understanding of the hippocampal circuity’s role in reward-seeking behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Khairunisa Mohamad Ibrahim & Nicolas Massaly & Hye-Jean Yoon & Rossana Sandoval & Allie J. Widman & Robert J. Heuermann & Sidney Williams & William Post & Sulan Pathiranage & Tania Lintz & Azra Zec & , 2024. "Dorsal hippocampus to nucleus accumbens projections drive reinforcement via activation of accumbal dynorphin neurons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-44836-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44836-9
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