title: Bromocriptine, a D2 receptor agonist, lowers the threshold for rewarding brain stimulation.
abstract: Drug-induced lowering of brain stimulation reward threshold can serve as a model for the pharmacological activation of reward pathways. Here, the effects of bromocriptine, a direct D2 dopamine receptor agonist, on reward thresholds were investigated. Bromocriptine administration resulted in the significant lowering of threshold levels in all test animals, suggesting that this agent can activate the same reward processes as do abused substances such as cocaine and morphine.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine, Laboratory of Behavioral Pharmacology, MA 02118.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kornetsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004566:Electrodes; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008474:Medial Forebrain Bundle / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000819:agonists*; D012201:Reward; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques
chemical_list: D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D001971:Bromocriptine