The effects of D1 or D2 dopamine receptor antagonism in the medial preoptic area, ventral pallidum, or nucleus accumbens on the maternal retrieval response and other aspects of maternal behavior in rats.
The medial preoptic area (MPOA), ventral pallidum (VP), and nucleus accumbens (NA) receive dopaminergic afferents and are involved in maternal behavior. Experiments investigated whether dopamine (DA) receptor antagonism in NA disrupts maternal behavior, determined the type of DA receptor involved, and investigated the involvement of drug spread to VP or MPOA. Injection of SCH 23390 (D1 DA receptor antagonist) into NA of postpartum rats disrupted retrieving at dosage levels that were ineffective when injected into MPOA or VP. Motor impairment was not the cause of the deficit. Injection of eticlopride (D2 DA receptor antagonist) into NA or VP was without effect. Results emphasize the importance of DA action on D1 receptors in NA for retrieval behavior.
Numan
Michael
M
Department of Psychology, Boston College, Boston, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. numan@bc.edu
Numan
Marilyn J
MJ
Pliakou
Natalia
N
Stolzenberg
Danielle S
DS
Mullins
Olivia J
OJ
Murphy
Jennifer M
JM
Smith
Carl D
CD
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000187:drug effects; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013997:Time Factors
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1