Food reinforcement, the dopamine D? receptor genotype, and energy intake in obese and nonobese humans.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 122(1) of Behavioral Neuroscience (see record 2008-01943-025). In the original article, the n values (and corresponding percentages) for the number of people with the A1/A1 & A1/A2 and A2/A2 genotypes were reversed in Table 2. The corrected table appears in the erratum, with the revised numbers appearing in bold font.] The authors measured food reinforcement, polymorphisms of the dopamine D? receptor (DRD?) and dopamine transporter (DAT1) genes, and laboratory energy intake in 29 obese and 45 nonobese humans 18-40 years old. Food reinforcement was greater in obese than in nonobese individuals, especially in obese individuals with the TaqI A1 allele. Energy intake was greater for individuals high in food reinforcement and greatest in those high in food reinforcement with the TaqI A1 allele. No effect of the DAT1 genotype was observed. These data show that individual differences in food reinforcement may be important for obesity and that the DRD? genotype may interact with food reinforcement to influence energy intake. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Various aspects of feeding behavior can be partially dissociated in the rat by the incentive properties of food and the physiological state.

The authors investigated the role of food incentive properties and homeostatic state on the motivational, anticipatory, and consummatory aspects of feeding. Behavioral tests were carried out on food-sated and food-restricted rats that were presented with 2 kinds of food differing in their palatability level. Both food-sated and food-restricted rats consumed large quantities and were highly motivated when presented with very palatable food. In contrast, only food-restricted rats developed anticipatory responses, regardless of the kind of food presented. These data suggest that food incentive properties play a key role in the control of consummatory and motivational components of feeding but seem less involved in the regulation of anticipatory behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing the role of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor in motivational learning and food intake.

The orexigenic neuropeptide ghrelin is an endogeneous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). This orexigen is expressed in both the periphery and in the central system, including portions of mesolimbic dopaminergic circuitry that play a role in affective behaviors. Here we examined pharmacological antagonism of GHS-R in motivational incentive learning, as reflected in Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT). Furthermore, it is currently unclear whether the previous effects of ghrelin on food intake are mediated by pre- and/or postingestive influences on ingestive behavior. Thus, the authors also conducted detailed analyses of the temporal dynamics of sucrose licking. Mice received low (50 nmol), moderate (100 nmol), and high (200 nmol) intraperitoneal injections of the GHS-R antagonist GHRP-6 [D-Lys3] prior to subsequent transfer and sucrose consumption tests. Low and moderate doses led to an augmentation of PIT, while high dose injections led to generalized performance deficits. In addition, moderate and high doses of the antagonist resulted in reductions in sucrose intake by reducing palatability of the sucrose. These results suggest dissociable functions of GHS-R in its influence over motivational learning and ingestive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex differences in nicotine sensitization and conditioned hyperactivity in adolescent rats neonatally treated with quinpirole: Role of D2 and D3 receptor subtypes.

Neonatal quinpirole treatment in rats produces increased sensitivity of dopamine D2-like receptors throughout the animal’s lifetime, referred to as D2 priming. There is little information on the effects of nicotine in adolescent rats, especially in a model that has clinical relevance to psychosis where increased D2 receptor sensitivity is common. Male and female rats were treated with quinpirole (1 mg/kg) or saline from postnatal (P) day 1–P21, given nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) or saline from P33 through P49, and placed into a locomotor arena for behavioral testing. Nicotine or saline treatment was preceded by the D2-like receptor antagonist eticlopride, D3 antagonist nafadotride, or saline. Conditioned hyperactivity was analyzed on P50 in the same context in a drug-free test. In females, D2 priming increased the locomotor response to acute nicotine, but did not affect subsequent nicotine sensitization, and only non–D2-primed females demonstrated conditioned hyperactivity. Eticlopride and nafadotride blocked behavioral sensitization, although nafadotride was more effective at blocking nicotine-conditioned hyperactivity in females. In males, D? priming enhanced sensitization to nicotine and produced conditioned hyperactivity, which were blocked by eticlopride and nafadotride. These results have implications for psychosis and comorbidity of nicotine abuse in adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of 5-HT1A receptors in the behavioral responses associated with innate fear.

Fear is a response induced by threatening stimuli and represents an important adaptive system. The serotonin (5-HT) system has been shown to be involved in the modulation of fear responses and anxiety disorders. In preclinical studies, it has been demonstrated that R (+)-8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin (8-OHDPAT), a 5-HT1A agonist, has anxiolytic properties. However, 8-OHDPATs potential role in unconditioned fear has yet to be elucidated. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of 8-OHDPAT on behavioral and HPA axis function in response to an innate fear-inducing stimulus. Pretreatment with 8-OHDPAT resulted in a significant decrease in freezing grooming, and climbing and caused a significant increase in approach after exposure to an extract from fox feces, 2,5-dihyrdo-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT), an unconditioned fear-inducing stimulus. Furthermore, 8-OHDPAT pretreatment also resulted in a significant decrease in blood corticosterone levels, a marker of HPA activation. Taken together, these results suggest an additional anxyolitic-like effect of 8-OHDPAT in innate fear paradigms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)