Intra-BLA or intra-NAc infusions of the dopamine D3 receptor partial agonist, BP 897, block intra-NAc amphetamine conditioned activity

Behav Neurosci. 2004 Dec;118(6):1324-30. doi: 10.1037/0735-7044.118.6.1324.

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that both systemic and intra-nucleus accumbens (NAc) or intra-amygdala administration of dopamine D3 receptor ligands modulate reward-related learning. A previous study (H. Aujla, H. Sokoloff, & R. J. Beninger. 2002) showed that systemic administration of the partial dopamine D3 receptor agonist BP 897 selectively blocked the expression, but not the acquisition, of amphetamine-conditioned activity. This suggested the hypothesis that intra-NAc or intra-basolateral amygdala (BLA) BP 897 would attenuate the expression, but not the acquisition, of amphetamine-conditioned activity. Rats were habituated to activity-monitoring chambers for 5 days, for 1 hr each day. Conditioning occurred on the next 3 days, followed by a single 1-hr test session. Intra-NAc or intra-BLA infusions of BP 897 during test, but not during conditioning, attenuated intra-NAc amphetamine conditioned activity. Results indicate that the ability of BP 897 to attenuate the expression of conditioned activity is mediated in part by the NAc and BLA.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Amygdala / anatomy & histology
  • Amygdala / drug effects*
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects*
  • Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists*
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Infusion Pumps
  • Male
  • Nucleus Accumbens / anatomy & histology
  • Nucleus Accumbens / drug effects*
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Dopamine D3
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Drd3 protein, rat
  • Piperazines
  • Receptors, Dopamine D3
  • BP 897
  • Amphetamine