Postdoctoral fellow Angel injects a rat with an opioid. What effect will this have on GABA neurons in the ventral tegmental area?
A) This will have no effect.
B) This will inhibit the neurons.
C) This will activates the neurons.
D) This will inhibit or activate neurons depending on the types of GABA receptors present.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Opioids inhibit GABAergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which leads to an increase in dopamine release since GABA normally acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter on dopaminergic neurons. By inhibiting GABA neurons, opioids reduce their inhibitory effect, thus indirectly increasing dopamine release.

Postdoctoral Fellow Angel Injects a Rat with an Opioid