title: Pharmacological manipulations of dopamine and opioids have differential effects on sexually motivated song in male European starlings.
abstract: Vocal communication is common among social vertebrates, though little is known about the neural mechanisms regulating the motivation to communicate. This study examined a possible role for dopamine and opioids in sexually motivated song in male European starlings. The dopamine reuptake inhibitor GBR-12909 increased singing behavior, whereas the D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH-23390 decreased song, suggesting a role for dopamine in the motivation to sing. In contrast, the opioid agonist fentanyl decreased song, and the antagonist naloxone has previously been shown to increase song, findings consistent with a role for opioids in reward associated with song production. These results suggest that dopamine and opioids play opposing roles in the regulation of the motivation to communicate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, 361 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 USA.
authors.forename: Molly B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Lauren V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Riters
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists*; D012201:Reward; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D046749:Starlings / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D004343:Drug Implants; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010879:Piperazines; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D013739:Testosterone; D009271:Naltrexone; C043425:vanoxerine; D005283:Fentanyl