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Morphine-conditioned single-trial place preference: role of nucleus accumbens shell dopamine receptors in acquisition, but not expression

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Abstract

Rationale

A large body of evidence indicates an involvement of the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway innervating the ventral striatum in the motivational effects of drug abuse.

Objective

The goal of the study is to clarify the role of DA D1 and D2 receptors of the rat nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core in the motivational effects of morphine as studied by conditioned place preference (CPP).

Methods

The effect of the intracerebral infusion of DA antagonists specific for DA D1 (SCH 39166) and D2 receptors (l-sulpiride) was studied in a single-trial place conditioning paradigm with fixed assignment of the drug to the unpreferred compartment.

Results

Morphine induced significant CPP at all the doses tested (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously). A dose of 1.0 mg/kg was selected for further studies. Intra-NAc shell infusion of SCH 39166 and l-sulpiride at doses of 25 and 50 ng/1 μl per side impaired the acquisition of CPP by morphine. No effect was observed at 12.5 ng/1 μl per side. Intra-NAc core infusion of SCH 39166 (12.5, 25, and 50 ng/1 μl per side) did not affect the acquisition of morphine-induced CPP, while l-sulpiride (12.5, 25, and 50 ng/1 μl per side) impaired CPP acquisition only at the dose of 50 ng/1 μl per side. No effect on morphine-induced CPP was observed when the DA antagonists were infused into the NAc shell or core 10 min before the test session.

Conclusion

These results indicate that DA D1 and D2 receptors in the NAc shell are involved in the acquisition of morphine-induced CPP.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by funds from Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca, Progetti di ricerca nazionale Bando 2003, and Centre of Excellence for Studies on Dependence, and from the European Commission, NIDE project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, Cagliari, 09124, Italy

    Sandro Fenu, Liliana Spina, Emilia Rivas, Rosanna Longoni & Gaetano Di Chiara

  2. Centre of Excellence for Studies on the Neurobiology of Addiction, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, Cagliari, 09124, Italy

    Sandro Fenu & Gaetano Di Chiara

  3. Institute of Neuroscience, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Cagliari, Italy

    Gaetano Di Chiara

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  1. Sandro Fenu
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  2. Liliana Spina
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  3. Emilia Rivas
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  4. Rosanna Longoni
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  5. Gaetano Di Chiara
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Correspondence to Gaetano Di Chiara.

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Fenu, S., Spina, L., Rivas, E. et al. Morphine-conditioned single-trial place preference: role of nucleus accumbens shell dopamine receptors in acquisition, but not expression. Psychopharmacology 187, 143–153 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0415-2

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