title: Amphetamine inhibits behavior-related neuronal responses in substantia nigra pars reticulata of rats working for sucrose reinforcement.
abstract: Changes in activity of basal ganglia neurons, especially those in the striatum, are thought to underlie the characteristic behavioral patterns produced by d-amphetamine (AMPH). To study the role of the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), a major basal ganglia output nucleus, we recorded from SNr neurons before and after a behaviorally activating dose of AMPH (0.5 mg/kg) in rats trained to nosepoke for sucrose reinforcement. Before AMPH, task-related behaviors were associated primarily with increases or both increases and decreases in SNr firing. Although these same behavior-related patterns persisted after AMPH, their relative magnitude was significantly attenuated. Units unresponsive during task events were unaffected by AMPH. Thus, rather than change the overall level of SNr firing, a behaviorally active dose of AMPH exerts context-dependent effects on the activity of SNr neurons.
authors.affiliation: Program in Neural Science, Department of Psychology, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-7007, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gulley
authors.forename: Ann E K
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kosobud
authors.forename: George V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Rebec
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013395:Sucrose
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D013395:Sucrose; D000661:Amphetamine