Experience with sexual behavior causes cross-sensitization of amphetamine reward, an effect dependent on a period of sexual reward abstinence. We previously showed that ΔFosB in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a key mediator of this cross-sensitization, potentially via dopamine receptor activation. However, the role of mesolimbic dopamine for sexual behavior or cross-sensitization between natural and drug reward is unknown. This was tested using inhibitory designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine cells. rAAV5/hSvn-DIO-hm4D-mCherry was injected into the VTA of TH::Cre adult male rats. Males received clozapine N-oxide (CNO) or vehicle injections before each of 5 consecutive days of mating or handling. Following an abstinence period of 7 d, males were tested for amphetamine conditioned place preference (CPP). Next, males were injected with CNO or vehicle before mating or handling for analysis of mating-induced cFos, sex experience-induced ΔFosB, and reduction of VTA dopamine soma size. Results showed that CNO did not affect mating behavior. Instead, CNO prevented sexual experience-induced cross-sensitization of amphetamine CPP, ΔFosB in the NAc and medial prefrontal cortex, and decreases in VTA dopamine soma size. Expression of hm4D-mCherry was specific to VTA dopamine cells and CNO blocked excitation and mating-induced cFos expression in VTA dopamine cells. These findings provide direct evidence that VTA dopamine activation is not required for initiation or performance of sexual behavior. Instead, VTA dopamine directly contributes to increased vulnerability for drug use following loss of natural reward by causing neuroplasticity in the mesolimbic pathway during the natural reward experience.
Pubmed ID: 27656032 RIS Download
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View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets TH
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View all literature mentionsA provider for commercial products for analyzing neuronal morphology, stereology, etc.
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View all literature mentionsSoftware tool that detects peaks of any type, any shape, any direction, and any size for neuroscientists who are studying spontaneous activities. Allows detection of virtually any kind of peaks including spontaneous miniature synaptic currents and potentials, action potential spikes, calcium imaging peaks, amperometric peaks, ECG peaks etc. It includes the complex and multiple peak detection algorithm. Has post-detection analyses including essential plots and statistical parameters. Group Analysis provides specialized and detailed analysis options for action potentials, decay fitting, fEPSP/population spikes, amperometry, etc.
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets IgG
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View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets IgG
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets FOS
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets Rabbit IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets TH
View all literature mentionsRattus norvegicus with name Crl:CD(SD) from RGD.
View all literature mentionsRattus norvegicus with name LE-Tg(Th-cre)3.1Deis from RGD.
View all literature mentionsSoftware tool that detects peaks of any type, any shape, any direction, and any size for neuroscientists who are studying spontaneous activities. Allows detection of virtually any kind of peaks including spontaneous miniature synaptic currents and potentials, action potential spikes, calcium imaging peaks, amperometric peaks, ECG peaks etc. It includes the complex and multiple peak detection algorithm. Has post-detection analyses including essential plots and statistical parameters. Group Analysis provides specialized and detailed analysis options for action potentials, decay fitting, fEPSP/population spikes, amperometry, etc.
View all literature mentionsA provider for commercial products for analyzing neuronal morphology, stereology, etc.
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Fos B (102)
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets IgG
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets FOS
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets Rabbit IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets TH
View all literature mentionsRattus norvegicus with name Crl:CD(SD) from RGD.
View all literature mentionsRattus norvegicus with name LE-Tg(Th-cre)3.1Deis from RGD.
View all literature mentionsSoftware tool that detects peaks of any type, any shape, any direction, and any size for neuroscientists who are studying spontaneous activities. Allows detection of virtually any kind of peaks including spontaneous miniature synaptic currents and potentials, action potential spikes, calcium imaging peaks, amperometric peaks, ECG peaks etc. It includes the complex and multiple peak detection algorithm. Has post-detection analyses including essential plots and statistical parameters. Group Analysis provides specialized and detailed analysis options for action potentials, decay fitting, fEPSP/population spikes, amperometry, etc.
View all literature mentionsA provider for commercial products for analyzing neuronal morphology, stereology, etc.
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets IgG
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets FOS
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets Rabbit IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets IgG
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets
View all literature mentionsRattus norvegicus with name Crl:CD(SD) from RGD.
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsRattus norvegicus with name LE-Tg(Th-cre)3.1Deis from RGD.
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets TH
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Fos B (102)
View all literature mentions