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. 2014 May 27;2:46. doi: 10.3389/fped.2014.00046

Figure 7.

Figure 7

Proposed model of the effects of third trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure on dopamine function in the BLA. The top panel illustrates a local GABAergic interneuron inhibiting a pyramidal neuron in the BLA (postsynaptic pyramidal neuron dendrite only shown in zoomed in image). DA projections from the ventral tegmental area innervate local interneurons, releasing DA onto D1Rs and D3Rs (the exact location of DA innervation onto these local interneurons is unknown). In Air-exposed animals, D1R activation increases interneuron firing, resulting in increased action potential-dependent spontaneous GABA release. Conversely, D3R activation suppresses quantal action potential-independent release of GABA from interneurons. These two opposing effects regulate the balance of GABA transmission in pyramidal neurons. In EtOH-exposed animals, D1R and D3R function is significantly blunted, without changes in receptor levels. Furthermore, although l-DOPA levels are robustly reduced, DA levels remain unchanged due to decreased degradation of DA into DOPAC and HVA. These homeostatic changes presumably explain the normal behavior observed in the elevated plus maze.