Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25343491›Full record

ArticlePloS one2014

Characterization of A11 neurons projecting to the spinal cord of mice.

Kathrin Koblinger, Tamás Füzesi, Jillian Ejdrygiewicz, Aleksandra Krajacic, Jaideep S Bains, Patrick J Whelan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 62 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
62citing papers in PubMed
2.9field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

62 citing papers in PubMed, 107 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Activation of mu-opioid receptors slows pacemaking in hypothalamic A11 dopamine neurons.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Sleep-related movement disorders in children: recent updates.World journal of pediatrics : WJP · 2025
    Review
  6. Cell Type-Dependent Short-Term Plasticity and Dopaminergic Modulation of Sensory Synapses onto Mouse Superficial Dorsal Horn Neurons.The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2025
    Article
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2 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Kathrin KoblingerHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Tamás FüzesiHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jillian EjdrygiewiczHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Aleksandra KrajacicHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Jaideep S BainsHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Patrick J WhelanHotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
University of Calgary · CA

Funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research MOP-130528
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The hypothalamic A11 region has been identified in several species including rats, mice, cats, monkeys, zebrafish, and humans as the primary source of descending dopamine (DA) to the spinal cord. It has been implicated in the control of pain, modulation of the spinal locomotor network, restless leg syndrome, and cataplexy, yet the A11 cell group remains an understudied dopaminergic (DAergic) nucleus within the brain. It is unclear whether A11 neurons in the mouse contain the full complement of enzymes consistent with traditional DA neuronal phenotypes. Given the abundance of mouse genetic models and tools available to interrogate specific neural circuits and behavior, it is critical first to fully understand the phenotype of A11 cells. We provide evidence that, in addition to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) that synthesizes L-DOPA, neurons within the A11 region of the mouse contain aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), the enzyme that converts L-DOPA to dopamine. Furthermore, we show that the A11 neurons contain vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), which is necessary for packaging DA into vesicles. On the contrary, A11 neurons in the mouse lack the dopamine transporter (DAT). In conclusion, our data suggest that A11 neurons are DAergic. The lack of DAT, and therefore the lack of a DA reuptake mechanism, points to a longer time of action compared to typical DA neurons.

Indexed as

AnimalsAromatic-L-Amino-Acid DecarboxylasesDopamineDopamine Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsDopaminergic NeuronsHumansHypothalamusLevodopaMiceSpinal CordTyrosine 3-MonooxygenaseVesicular Monoamine Transport ProteinsAromatic-L-Amino-Acid DecarboxylasesDopamineDopamine Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsLevodopaTyrosine 3-MonooxygenaseVesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins

Identifiers

PMID25343491
PMCPMC4208762
OpenAlexW2120227437

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.