Medial Prefrontal Cortical Dopamine Responses During Operant Self-Administration of Sweetened Ethanol.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) dysfunction is present in heavy alcohol consumers. Dopamine signaling in mPFC is associated with executive functioning and affects drinking behavior; however, direct measurement of extracellular mPFC dopamine during appetitive and consummatory ethanol (EtOH) self-administration behavior has not been reported.

Methods

We used in vivo microdialysis in freely behaving, adult, male, Long Evans rats to determine extracellular dopamine concentration in the mPFC during operant self-administration of an EtOH-plus-sucrose or sucrose solution. The model separated appetitive/seeking from consummatory phases of the operant session. Dopamine was also monitored in an untrained handling control group, and dialysate EtOH was measured in the EtOH-dr

SUBMITTER: Doherty JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5573256 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature