Individual differences in behavioral measures: correlations with nucleus accumbens dopamine measured by microdialysis

Rats were placed in one of two novel test environments for behavioral observation. In one, exploratory behavior (assessed by hole pokes) and locomotion were assessed during a 10-min test session. In the other, the chewing of varied objects on the cage floor was rated over a 20-min session. Within 2-18 days, animals were anesthetized and microdialysis probes were implanted into the nucleus accumbens for measurement of basal and d-amphetamine-stimulated levels of dopamine (DA). These measures were then correlated with the individual behavioral rating collected earlier from the drug-free animals. We found a significant correlation between duration of exploratory behavior and amphetamine-induced DA release. Locomotor activity did not correlated with either basal or amphetamine-stimulated DA release. Duration of chewing episodes correlated with basal levels of DA, as well as with amphetamine-induced DA release. Our studies indicate that differences in the dopaminergic responsivity of the nucleus accumbens (or other circuitry influencing nucleus accumbens DA function) may contribute to individual differences in certain behaviors displayed by the animals when placed in a novel environment.