N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent plasticity within a distributed corticostriatal network mediates appetitive instrumental learning.
The effect of microinfusion of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5) into the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, and dorsal and ventral subiculum on acquisition of a lever-pressing task for food in rats was examined. Serial transmission between the basolateral amygdala and nucleus accumbens core was also examined in an asymmetric infusion design. AP-5 administered bilaterally into either the amygdala or medial prefrontal cortex markedly impaired learning, whereas administration into the dorsal or ventral subiculum had no effect. Unilateral infusion of AP-5 into either the nucleus accumbens core or amygdala was also sufficient to impair learning. These data provide novel evidence for NMDA receptor-dependent plasticity within corticostriatal networks in the acquisition of appetitive instrumental learning.
Baldwin
A E
AE
Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, 53719-1176, USA. aaebaldwi@students.wisc.edu
Holahan
M R
MR
Sadeghian
K
K
Kelley
A E
AE
D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology*
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate