Boosting of Thalamic D2 Dopaminergic Transmission: A Potential Strategy for Drug-Seeking Attenuation

Abstract

This commentary focuses on novel findings by Clark et al. (2017) published in eNeuro that show that dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) are involved in cocaine sensitization. We extend the discussion on how their findings contribute to our understanding of the role of the PVT in drug-seeking by providing new insight on the role of the PVT in the regulation of food-seeking and fear responses. We also consider the significance of the neuroanatomical findings reported by Clark and colleagues that the PVT is reciprocally connected with areas of the brain involved in addiction, and discuss the implications associated with the source and type of dopaminergic fibers innervating this area of the thalamus.

Significance Statement This commentary focuses on novel findings by Clark et al. (2017) published in eNeuro that dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) are involved in cocaine sensitization. The article describes experiments using a virally driven strategy in which the authors investigate the anatomic, physiologic and behavioral properties of D2R expressing neurons in the PVT. Here, we will extend the discussion on how their findings contribute to our understanding of the role of the PVT in drug-seeking behavior by providing new insight into the recently described participation of this region in the regulation of food-seeking and fear responses. In addition, we will consider the significance of the neuroanatomical findings reported by Clark and colleagues that the PVT is reciprocally connected with areas of the brain involved in addiction, and discuss the implications associated with the source and type of dopaminergic fibers innervating this area of the thalamus.