RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Dopamine Signaling through D<sub>1</sub>-Like versus D<sub>2</sub>-Like Receptors in the Nucleus Accumbens Core versus Shell Differentially Modulates Nicotine Reward Sensitivity
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 8025
OP 8033
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1371-08.2008
VO 28
IS 32
A1 Steven R. Laviolette
A1 Nicole M. Lauzon
A1 Stephanie F. Bishop
A1 Ninglei Sun
A1 Huibing Tan
YR 2008
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/32/8025.abstract
AB Considerable evidence implicates the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system in the processing of nicotine's reinforcing properties, specifically the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the terminal fields of VTA DAergic projections to the “core” (NAcore) and “shell” (NAshell) subdivisions of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, the specific roles of DA D1-like and D2-like receptor subtypes in nicotine reward processing within these NAc subregions have not been elucidated. We report that microinfusions of DA D1-like or D2-like receptor-specific antagonists into NAcore or NAshell double dissociate the rewarding and aversive properties of systemic or intra-VTA nicotine, and differentially regulate sensitivity to the rewarding properties as well as the motivational valence of either intra-VTA or systemic nicotine administration. Using a place conditioning procedure, NAshell infusions of a D2-like receptor antagonist switched the motivational valence of intra-VTA nicotine from aversive to rewarding and potentiated nicotine reward sensitivity to sub-reward threshold intra-VTA nicotine doses. In contrast, NAcore infusions of a D1-like receptor antagonist switched intra-VTA nicotine aversion to reward, and potentiated reward sensitivity to sub-reward threshold nicotine doses. Thus, D1-like versus D2-like receptors in NAcore versus NAshell subdivisions play functionally dissociable roles in modulating systemic or intra-VTA nicotine motivational processing.