Fig. 1

Neuronal afferent activity changes glutamate transport in VTA astrocytes. a Schematic showing the microcircuitry of the VTA and recordings performed. b Recording from a VTA astrocyte showing the current generated by electrical stimulation (black; 50 Hz, 20 pulses), the current remaining after blocking action potentials with 250 µM lidocaine (red), and after washing out lidocaine (green). c Summary of the currents before (black) and after lidocaine application (red; paired t-test t₍₅₎ = 2.679, P = 0.04, n = 6 cells, 4 mice). d Current generated in a VTA astrocyte by electrical stimulation of afferents before (black) and after adding 15 µm TFB-TBOA (red). e Summary of the currents generated by electrical stimulation in VTA astrocytes before (black) and after (red) addition of TFB-TBOA (paired t-test t₍₄₎ = 2.159, P = 0.04, n = 5 cells, 5 mice). *: P < 0.05