Abstract
Rats were implanted with stimulating electrodes in the lateral hypothalamus, and cannulae for chemical injections in the ventral tegmentum. Injections of atropine, a muscarinic antagonist, increased thresholds for self-stimulation in a dose-dependent fashion, without slowing bar pressing rates. Thresholds increased less for a self-stimulation site contralateral to the atropine injection. In a conditioned place preference test, the rats preferred compartments in which they received carbachol, a cholinergic agonist. Muscarinic receptors in ventral tegmentum therefore seem critical for medial forebrain bundle (MFB) reward. The possible cholinergic cells of origin are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 19-26 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Brain Research |
Volume | 329 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 11 Mar 1985 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- acetylcholine
- atropine
- carbachol
- medial forebrain bundle
- self-stimulation
- ventral tegmentum
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Neurology
- Developmental Biology