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a=86400 The rewarding effect of aggression is reduced by nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor antagonism in mice | Psychopharmacology
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The rewarding effect of aggression is reduced by nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor antagonism in mice

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Abstract

Rationale

Dopamine (DA) receptors within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are implicated in the rewarding properties of stimuli. Aggressive behavior can be reinforcing but the involvement of NAc DA in the reinforcing effects of aggression has yet to be demonstrated.

Objective

To microinject DA receptor antagonists into the NAc to dissociate their effects on reinforcement from their effects on aggressive behavior and general movement.

Materials and methods

Male Swiss Webster mice were implanted with guide cannulae aimed for the NAc and tested for aggressive behavior in a resident–intruder procedure. Aggressive mice were then conditioned on a variable-ratio 5 (VR-5) schedule with presentation of the intruder as the reinforcing event. The D1- and D2-like receptor antagonists SCH-23390 and sulpiride were microinfused (12–50 ng) before the mice responded on the VR-5 schedule and attacked the intruder. Open-field activity was also determined following the highest doses of these drugs.

Results

SCH-23390 and sulpiride dose-dependently reduced VR responding but did not affect open-field activity. The 50-ng SCH-23390 dose suppressed response rates by 40% and biting behaviors by 10%; other aggressive behaviors were not affected. The 25 and 50 ng sulpiride doses almost completely inhibited VR responding; the 50-ng dose suppressed biting by 50%.

Conclusions

These results suggest that both D1- and D2-like receptors in the ventral striatum are involved in the rewarding properties of aggression, but that D1-like receptors may be related to the motivation to earn reinforcement as opposed to aggressive behavior.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Discovery Grant (CHK) from Vanderbilt University. We thank Jon Tapp for his computer programming and Andrea Gaede and Michael May for their laboratory assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37204, USA

    Maria H. Couppis & Craig H. Kennedy

  2. Center for Integrative and Cognitive Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37204, USA

    Maria H. Couppis & Craig H. Kennedy

  3. Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, P.O. Box 328, Nashville, TN, 37204, USA

    Craig H. Kennedy

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37204, USA

    Craig H. Kennedy

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  1. Maria H. Couppis
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  2. Craig H. Kennedy
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Correspondence to Craig H. Kennedy.

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Couppis, M.H., Kennedy, C.H. The rewarding effect of aggression is reduced by nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor antagonism in mice. Psychopharmacology 197, 449–456 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-007-1054-y

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