title: Differences in performance between Sprague-Dawley and Fischer 344 rats in positive reinforcement tasks.
abstract: This experimental investigation tested two different strains of rat, Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Fischer 344 (F344), in their ability to learn lever pressing for food (autoshaping) or intracranial self-administration (ICSA) of dextroamphetamine (AMPH) into the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Additionally, a unique method of intracranial drug delivery was utilized, via reverse dialysis, by the use of a microdiaylsis probe. The experiments revealed definite behavioral differences between SD and F344 animals. The autoshaping data indicated that SD rats, on average, acquired lever pressing for food in fewer training days than F344 rats. Also, the ICSA experiment revealed that SD rats self-administered AMPH at a 30 mug/mul concentration. Lever pressing was significantly greater in those SD rats receiving AMPH than in the F344 drug group. Furthermore, the F344 rats never acquired lever pressing for intra-NAcc delivery of AMPH under our testing regime. These data reveal differences in performance of positively reinforced operant tasks between the inbred F344 rats as compared to the outbred SD strain.
authors: Cajal Neuroscience Institute, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
authors: Jesse S
authors: JS
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Sherin Y
authors: SY
authors: Boctor
authors: Clyde F
authors: CF
authors: Phelix
authors: Joe L
authors: JL
authors: Martinez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004058:Diffusion; D005502:Food; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003913:Dextroamphetamine