| Abstract: | In a study with 71 male Charles River rats, 20 out of 21 electrodes in the almost-exclusively noradrenergic cell concentrations of the locus coeruleus supported high and stable rates of self-stimulation. Locus coeruleus self-stimulation was facilitated by dextroamphetamine-sulphate and suppressed by chlorpromazine hydrochloride and a-methyl-p-tyrosine, but pimozide at relatively high doses had almost no effect. Results demonstrate that self-stimulation can be localized in a relatively homogeneous noradrenergic site and provide presumptive evidence that at least some noradrenergic neurons specifically mediate rewarding effects. (54 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
