The dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF81297 has dose-related effects on locomotor activity but is without effect in a CER trace conditioning procedure conducted with two versus four trials

Pezze, Marie A.; Marshall, Hayley J.; Cassaday, Helen J.

Abstract

In an appetitively motivated procedure, we have previously reported that systemic treatment with the dopamine (DA) D1 receptor agonist SKF81297 (0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg) depressed acquisition at a 2s inter-stimulus-interval (ISI), suitable to detect trace conditioning impairment. However since DA is involved in reinforcement processes, the generality of effects across appetitively- and aversively-motivated trace conditioning procedures cannot be assumed. The present study tested the effects of SKF81297 (0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg) in an established conditioned emotional response (CER) procedure. Trace-dependent conditioning was clearly shown in two experiments: while conditioning was relatively strong at a 3-s ISI, it was attenuated at a 30-s ISI. This was shown after two (Experiment 1) or four (Experiment 2) conditioning trials conducted in - as far as possible - the same CER procedure. Contrary to prediction, in neither experiment was there any indication that trace conditioning was attenuated by treatment with 0.4 or 0.8 mg/kg SKF81297. In the same rats, locomotor activity was significantly enhanced at the 0.8 mg/kg dose of SKF81297. These results suggest that procedural details of the trace conditioning variant in use are an important determinant of the profile of dopaminergic modulation.

Citation

Pezze, M. A., Marshall, H. J., & Cassaday, H. J. (2016). The dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF81297 has dose-related effects on locomotor activity but is without effect in a CER trace conditioning procedure conducted with two versus four trials. Learning and Motivation, 55, 53-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2016.06.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 1, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 20, 2016
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 10, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 10, 2016
• Journal: Learning and Motivation
• Print ISSN: 0023-9690
• Electronic ISSN: 0023-9690
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 55
• Pages: 53-64
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2016.06.001
• Keywords: Dopamine D1; Trace conditioning; Contextual conditioning; Rat; SKF81297
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/797902
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023969016300297
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: The dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF81297 has dose-related effects on locomotor activity but is without effect in a CER trace conditioning procedure conducted with two versus four trials; Journal Title: Learning and Motivation; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lmot.2016.06.001; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.