title: Relief learning is dependent on NMDA receptor activation in the nucleus accumbens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, we demonstrated that the nucleus accumbens (NAC) is required for the acquisition and expression of relief memory. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of NMDA receptors within the NAC in relief learning.
  
  
  METHODS
  The NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5) was injected into the NAC. The effects of these injections on the acquisition and expression of relief memory, as well as on the reactivity to aversive electric stimuli, were tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intra-accumbal AP-5 injections blocked the acquisition but not the expression of relief memory. Furthermore, reactivity to aversive electric stimuli was not affected by the AP-5 injections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data indicate that NMDA-dependent plasticity within the NAC is crucial for the acquisition of relief memory.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Integrative Neuroscience Program, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Milad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fendt
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D013216:Reflex, Startle
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate