Lesions of the dopaminergic innervation of the nucleus accumbens medial shell delay the generation of preference for sucrose, but not of sexual pheromones |
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Authors: | Martínez-Hernández José Lanuza Enrique Martínez-García Fernando |
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Affiliation: | a Laboratori de Neuroanatomia Funcional Comparada, Department of Biologia Funcional i Antropologia Física, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València. C. Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, València, Spain b Laboratori de Neuroanatomia Funcional Comparada, Department of Biologia Cel·lular, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València. C. Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjassot, València, Spain |
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Abstract: | Male sexual pheromones are rewarding stimuli for female mice, able to induce conditioned place preference. To test whether processing these natural reinforcing stimuli depends on the dopaminergic innervation of the nucleus accumbens, as for other natural rewards, we compare the effects of specific lesions of the dopaminergic innervation of the medial shell of the nucleus accumbens on two different appetitive behaviours, ‘pheromone seeking’ and sucrose preferential intake. Female mice, with no previous experience with either adult male chemical stimuli or with sucrose, received injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (or vehicle) in the medial shell of the accumbens. Then, we analyzed their preference for male soiled-bedding and their preferential intake of a sucrose solution, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of acquisition of both natural rewards.The results indicate that both lesioned and sham animals showed similar preference for male sexual pheromones, which was constant along the test (linear dynamics). In contrast, lesioned animals differed from sham operated mice in the dynamics of sucrose consumption in their first test of sucrose preference. Sham animals showed an initial sucrose preference followed by preference for water, which can be interpreted as sucrose neophobia. Lesioned animals showed no preference at the beginning of the test, and a delayed sucrose preference appeared followed by a delayed neophobia. The next day, during a second sucrose-preference test, both groups displayed comparable and sustained preferential sucrose intake. Therefore, dopamine in the medial shell of the nucleus accumbens has a different role on the reward of sexual pheromones and sucrose. |
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Keywords: | 6-OHDA, 6-hidroxydopamine aca, anterior branch of the anterior commissure Acb, nucleus accumbens AcbC, core of the nucleus accumbens AcbShM, medial shell of the nucleus accumbens cc, corpus callosum CPu, caudate putamen DA, dopamine DAT, dopamine transporter OT, olfactory tubercle S, septum VTA, ventral tegmental area |
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