title: Acquisition of glucose-conditioned flavor preference requires the activation of dopamine D1-like receptors within the medial prefrontal cortex in rats.
abstract: In this study, we investigated the role of dopamine transmission within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in flavor preference learning induced by post-oral glucose. In Experiment 1, rats were trained with a flavor (CS+) paired with intragastric (IG) infusions of 8% glucose and a different flavor (CS-) paired with IG water infusions. The CS+ preference was evaluated in two-bottle tests following bilateral injection of the dopamine D1-like receptor antagonist, SCH23390, into the mPFC at total doses of 0, 12 and 24nmol. SCH23390 produced dose-dependent reductions in CS+ intake but did not block the CS+ preference. In Experiment 2, new rats were injected daily in the mPFC with either saline or SCH23390 (12nmol), prior to training sessions with CS+/IG glucose and CS-/IG water. In the two-bottle choice tests, SCH rats, unlike the Control rats, failed to prefer the CS+ (50% vs. 74%). Collectively, the results show that D1-like receptor activation in the medial prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in the acquisition of flavor preference learning induced by the post-oral reinforcing properties of glucose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, NY 11210, USA. ktouzani@brooklyn.cuny.edu
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Touzani
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bodnar
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sclafani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005518:Food Preferences; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D019518:Postprandial Period; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; C534628:SCH 23390; D004298:Dopamine