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Abstract:

The nucleus accumbens shell (NAc) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) are robust generators of intense reward-related motivation. Both structures contain two distinct populations of neurons that respectively have either D1-type receptors for dopamine or D2-type of receptors. I sought to examine the reward roles of D1 versus D2 neuron populations in NAc shell and in CeA, by comparing optogenetic self-stimulation as laser excitation of either D1 neuron or D2 neurons in each structure (using D1-Cre and A2A/D2-Cre rats developed by Ferrario/Berke labs). My results suggest a strong role of D1 neurons in reward motivation in both NAc and CeA. My results also suggest at least moderate reward roles for D2 neurons, especially in CeA but also to some extent in NAc shell (at least under certain conditions).