TY - JOUR
T1 - Stimulation of dopamine D2/D3 but not D1 receptors in the central amygdala decreases cocaine-seeking behavior
AU - Thiel, Kenneth J.
AU - Wenzel, Jennifer M.
AU - Pentkowski, Nathan S.
AU - Hobbs, Rebecca J.
AU - Alleweireldt, Andrea T.
AU - Neisewander, Janet
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank Jenny Browning and Arturo Zavala for their expert technical assistance. This research was supported by NIDA grants DA11064 and DA06095.
PY - 2010/12
Y1 - 2010/12
N2 - Alterations in dopamine output within the various subnuclei of the amygdala have previously been implicated in cocaine reinforcement, as well as cocaine-seeking behavior. To elucidate the potential for increased stimulation of D1- and D2-like receptors (D1Rs and D2Rs, respectively) specifically in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to modulate cue- and cocaine-elicited reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, we infused either the D1R agonist, SKF-38393 (0-4.0μg/side) or the D2R agonist, 7-OH-DPAT (0-4.0μg/side) into the CeA immediately prior to tests for cue and cocaine-primed reinstatement. We also examined the effects of 7-OH-DPAT on cocaine self-administration as a positive behavioral control. 7-OH-DPAT decreased cue-and cocaine-primed reinstatement, and reduced the number of cocaine infusions obtained during self-administration; SKF-38393 produced no discernable effects. The results suggest that enhanced stimulation of D2Rs, but not D1Rs, in the CeA is sufficient to inhibit expression of the incentive motivational effects of cocaine priming and cocaine-paired cues. Together with previous findings that D1R blockade attenuates reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, the results suggest that D1R stimulation may be necessary, but not sufficient, to modulate the incentive motivational effects of cues and cocaine priming.
AB - Alterations in dopamine output within the various subnuclei of the amygdala have previously been implicated in cocaine reinforcement, as well as cocaine-seeking behavior. To elucidate the potential for increased stimulation of D1- and D2-like receptors (D1Rs and D2Rs, respectively) specifically in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to modulate cue- and cocaine-elicited reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, we infused either the D1R agonist, SKF-38393 (0-4.0μg/side) or the D2R agonist, 7-OH-DPAT (0-4.0μg/side) into the CeA immediately prior to tests for cue and cocaine-primed reinstatement. We also examined the effects of 7-OH-DPAT on cocaine self-administration as a positive behavioral control. 7-OH-DPAT decreased cue-and cocaine-primed reinstatement, and reduced the number of cocaine infusions obtained during self-administration; SKF-38393 produced no discernable effects. The results suggest that enhanced stimulation of D2Rs, but not D1Rs, in the CeA is sufficient to inhibit expression of the incentive motivational effects of cocaine priming and cocaine-paired cues. Together with previous findings that D1R blockade attenuates reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, the results suggest that D1R stimulation may be necessary, but not sufficient, to modulate the incentive motivational effects of cues and cocaine priming.
KW - 7-OH-DPAT
KW - Amygdaloid nuclei
KW - Dopamine
KW - Incentive motivation
KW - Reinforcement
KW - Reinstatement
KW - SKF-38393
KW - Self-administration
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U2 - 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.06.021
DO - 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.06.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 20600343
AN - SCOPUS:77955281660
SN - 0166-4328
VL - 214
SP - 386
EP - 394
JO - Behavioural Brain Research
JF - Behavioural Brain Research
IS - 2
ER -