Intra-BLA or intra-NAc infusions of the dopamine D3 receptor partial agonist, BP 897, block intra-NAc amphetamine conditioned activity.
Recent studies have shown that both systemic and intra-nucleus accumbens (NAc) or intra-amygdala administration of dopamine D3 receptor ligands modulate reward-related learning. A previous study (H. Aujla, H. Sokoloff, & R. J. Beninger. 2002) showed that systemic administration of the partial dopamine D3 receptor agonist BP 897 selectively blocked the expression, but not the acquisition, of amphetamine-conditioned activity. This suggested the hypothesis that intra-NAc or intra-basolateral amygdala (BLA) BP 897 would attenuate the expression, but not the acquisition, of amphetamine-conditioned activity. Rats were habituated to activity-monitoring chambers for 5 days, for 1 hr each day. Conditioning occurred on the next 3 days, followed by a single 1-hr test session. Intra-NAc or intra-BLA infusions of BP 897 during test, but not during conditioning, attenuated intra-NAc amphetamine conditioned activity. Results indicate that the ability of BP 897 to attenuate the expression of conditioned activity is mediated in part by the NAc and BLA.
Aujla
Harinder
H
Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. haujla@scripps.edu
Beninger
Richard J
RJ
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D013997:Time Factors
D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; C493595:Drd3 protein, rat; D010879:Piperazines; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; C120565:BP 897; D000661:Amphetamine