The effect of 6-OHDA lesions of the nucleus accumbens septum on schedule-induced drinking, wheelrunning and corticosterone levels in the rat.
In a series of four experiments the relationship between 6-OHDA lesions of the nucleus accumbens septum (NAS), schedule-induced behaviors and plasma corticosterone levels was explored. Data from the first experiment show a significant decrease in water intake during a scheduled food delivery test hour for 6-OHDA lesioned groups of rats compared with sham or non-lesioned groups of rats, while during the remaining 23 hours of the day water intake was the same for 6-OHDA lesioned and sham lesioned groups. In a second experiment similar decreases in schedule-induced wheelrunning were observed for 6-OHDA lesioned rats when compared with sham lesioned rats. Data from a third experiment showed significant increases in plasma corticosterone levels of rats in the presence of a scheduled food delivery compared with rats given non-scheduled food. In a fourth experiment it was shown that 6-OHDA lesions of the NAS abolish this increase of corticosterone levels in rats on a food delivery schedule. These data extend the findings of Robbins and Koob [19] and show a more general involvement of the dopaminergic pathways of the NAS in schedule-induced behaviors and in concomitant plasma corticosterone changes.
D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; C027802:5-hydroxydopamine; D003345:Corticosterone