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Development of Dopaminergic Neurons, 4th Edition
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Development of Dopaminergic Neurons, 4th Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 953

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yasemin M. Akay

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5060, USA
Interests: coronary artery disease; stent; noninvasive monitoring; nonlinear dynamics analysis; approximate entropy; 3D co-culture; glioblastoma; astrocytes; tumor microenvironment; PEGDA; addiction; cancer research; data science in medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dopaminergic neurons located in the mammalian ventral midbrain have attracted the attention of many biomedical researchers due to their effect in severe human neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. There are four major signalling pathways which play critical roles during the development of the midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. In spite of the intense research conducted in recent years, we have achieved little understanding related to the crosstalk and the interaction between those four major signalling pathways and how they promote the development of mDA neurons in the mammalian embryo. This has been a very exciting research field and a number of questions remain answering:

(1) Which cellular and molecular mechanisms constitute the basis for the programming of the development of VTA DA neurons versus SNc DA neurons in vivo?

(2) What could be the explanation for the vulnerability of some types of mDA neurons in some neurodegenerative disorders?

(3) What will be the efficacy and safety outcomes of the clinical trials using human stem cell-derived mDA neurons?

Contributions to this Special Issue will provide new insights into the mechanisms of action of the development of DA neurons and for the modelling and drug screening of the disorders mentioned above in the basic and clinical research.

Due to the success of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions, we would like to add more results and new insights from recent research projects. You can find the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions at the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/dopaminergic_neurons

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/7WRQJ0EJ04

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/19I9336Q2A

Dr. Yasemin M. Akay
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neuron
  • dopamine
  • mDA
  • signalling pathways
  • human stem cell

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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18 pages, 3042 KiB  
Article
Mapping Morphine’s Antinociceptive Impact on the Ventral Tegmental Area During Nociceptive Stimulation: A Novel Microimaging Approach in a Neuropathic Pain Model
by Austin Ganaway, Airi Kamata, Dunyan Yao, Kazuto Sakoori, Ryoma Okada, Ting Chen, Yasumi Ohta, Jun Ohta, Masahiro Ohsawa, Metin Akay and Yasemin M. Akay
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(13), 6526; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26136526 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 355
Abstract
The neurobiology of chronic pain is complex and multifaceted, intertwining with the mesocorticolimbic system to regulate the behavioral and perceptional response to adverse stimuli. Specifically, the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the dopaminergic hub of the reward pathways located deep within the midbrain, is [...] Read more.
The neurobiology of chronic pain is complex and multifaceted, intertwining with the mesocorticolimbic system to regulate the behavioral and perceptional response to adverse stimuli. Specifically, the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the dopaminergic hub of the reward pathways located deep within the midbrain, is crucial for regulating the release of dopamine (DA) throughout the central nervous system (CNS). To better understand the nuances among chronic pain, VTA response, and therapeutics, implementing progressive approaches for mapping and visualizing the deep brain in real time during nociceptive stimulation is crucial. In this study, we utilize a fluorescence imaging platform with a genetically encoded calcium indicator (GCaMP6s) to directly visualize activity in the VTA during acute nociceptive stimulation in both healthy adult mice and adult mice with partial nerve ligation (PNL)-induced neuropathic pain. We also investigate the visualization of the analgesic properties of morphine. Deep brain imaging using our self-fabricated µ-complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) imaging device allows the tracking of the VTA’s response to adverse stimuli. Our findings show that nociceptive stimulation is associated with a reduction in VTA fluorescence activity, supporting the potential of this platform for visualizing pain-related responses in the central nervous system. Additionally, treatment with morphine significantly reduces the neuronal response caused by mechanical stimuli and is observable using the CMOS imaging platform, demonstrating a novel way to potentially assess and treat neuropathic pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Dopaminergic Neurons, 4th Edition)
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17 pages, 2518 KiB  
Article
Blockade of Dopamine D3 Receptors in the Ventral Tegmental Area Mitigates Fear Memory Generalization
by Xiangjun Fang, Xiaoyan Ding, Ning Wu, Jin Li and Rui Song
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(13), 6520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26136520 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 369
Abstract
The generalization of fear memories is an adaptive neurobiological process that promotes survival in complex and dynamic environments. While generalization has adaptive value, fear generalization is maladaptive and is a significant feature of stress-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The dopamine [...] Read more.
The generalization of fear memories is an adaptive neurobiological process that promotes survival in complex and dynamic environments. While generalization has adaptive value, fear generalization is maladaptive and is a significant feature of stress-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The dopamine system plays a crucial role in both reward- and fear-related processes; however, the contribution of dopamine D3 receptors (D3Rs) to fear generalization in intense foot-shock models remains unclear. In this study, we administered a highly selective D3R antagonist, YQA14 (1 μg/0.2 μL/side), in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which significantly inhibited fear generalization in novel contexts within foot-shock models. This effect was mediated by reducing the neuronal activity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). These findings enhance our understanding of the neurobiology of generalization, which is essential from a translational perspective and has broad implications for treating generalized fear disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Dopaminergic Neurons, 4th Edition)
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