miR-218 Regulates the Excitability of VTA Dopamine Neurons and the Mesoaccumbens Pathway in Mice

Background. MiR-218 is a micro-RNA expressed in two isoforms (miR-218-1 and miR-218-2) in the brain and, within the mesencephalic area, it represents a specific regulator of differentiation and functional maturation of the dopamine-releasing neurons (DAn). Deletion of miR-218 isoforms within the midbrain alters the expression of synaptic mRNAs, the neuronal excitability of DAn of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and their ability to release dopamine (DA) within the dorsal striatum. Objectives. Here we have investigated if miR-218 impacts the function of the DAn population adjacent to SNpc, the mesencephalic ventral tegmental area (VTA) innervating the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and the medial prefrontal cortex. Methods. With the use of miR-218-1, miR-218-2, and double conditional knock-out mice (KO1, c-KO2, c-dKO), we performed electrophysiological recordings in VTA DAn to investigate firing activity, measurements of DA release in NAcc slices by constant potential amperometry (CPA), and in vivo behavioral analysis. Results. We find that KO1 VTA neurons display hyperexcitability in comparison with c-KO2, c-dKO, and wild type (WT) neurons. DA efflux in the NAcc core and shell is reduced in all single- and double-conditional KO striatal slices in comparison with controls. The KO1 mice display a tendency toward an anxiety-like trait, as revealed by the elevated plus maze test. Conclusions. Our data indicate that miR-218-1 is the isoform that mainly regulates VTA DA neuron excitability whereas both miR-218-1 and miR-218-2 impair DA release in the mesoaccumbens pathway.