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Choice for response alternatives differing in reinforcement frequency in dopamine D2 receptor mutant and Swiss-Webster mice

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Abstract

Rationale

A previous study showed that dopamine (DA) D2 receptors (D2Rs) are involved in the reinforcing effectiveness of food, but the specific involvement of DA D2Rs in choice among food reinforcers remains unclear.

Objectives

The current study used genetic and pharmacological approaches to assess the role of D2Rs in choice among food-reinforcement frequencies using the generalized matching law (GML), which specifies that logged response and time allocation ratios vary linearly with logged reinforcer ratios.

Methods

Congenic D2R knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were exposed to concurrent variable-interval schedules of reinforcement with scheduled relative-reinforcement rates from 4:1 to 1:4. Effects of the D2R antagonist (−)-eticlopride (0.1–1.0 mg/kg) were assessed in Swiss-Webster mice.

Results

Response and time allocation ratios were related to obtained reinforcement ratios as predicted by the GML. GML fits accounted for ≥92 % of the variance in allocation ratios and did not differ in D2R KO and WT mice. Similarly, there were no significant effects of (−)-eticlopride dose on GML fits, despite effects on overall response rates.

Conclusions

The current results demonstrate that neither deletion nor acute blockade of D2Rs affects choice among response alternatives varying in food-reinforcement frequencies. Because previously published results suggest a role of D2Rs in choice between response alternatives differing in reinforcer magnitude and delay or magnitude and probability, the current findings suggest that D2Rs play a role in choice only among certain parameters of reinforcement. Furthermore, these findings suggest parameters of reinforcement may only be fungible in a complex manner.

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Acknowledgments

These studies were conducted with support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Program. We also gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Dawn French-Evans in conducting these studies, and W. M. Baum and L. Green for comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Takato Hiranita

    Present address: Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR, 72079, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79410, USA

    Paul L. Soto

  2. Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Psychobiology Section, Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA

    Takato Hiranita & Jonathan L. Katz

  3. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    David K. Grandy

Authors
  1. Paul L. Soto
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  2. Takato Hiranita
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  4. Jonathan L. Katz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul L. Soto.

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Soto, P.L., Hiranita, T., Grandy, D.K. et al. Choice for response alternatives differing in reinforcement frequency in dopamine D2 receptor mutant and Swiss-Webster mice. Psychopharmacology 231, 3169–3177 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3495-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3495-4

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