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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
Published on: March 19, 2014
Muscarinic receptor antagonism causes a functional alteration in nucleus accumbens mu-opiate-mediated feeding
Michelle L Perry1, Brian A Baldo, Matthew E Andrzejewski
1Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6001 Research Park Boulevard, Madison, WI 53719, USA.
Abstract:
Intra-nucleus accumbens (Acb) infusion of cholinergic muscarinic antagonist, scopolamine (10 microg/0.5 microl), markedly reduced fat intake elicited by intra-Acb treatment of the mu-opioid receptor agonist, DAMGO, with 30 min and 4h pretreatment intervals. Intra-Acb scopolamine infusions also reduced food intake in food-deprived rats, but not water intake in water-deprived rats. Hence, Acb muscarinic manipulations exhibit some specificity for feeding, perhaps via interactions with the striatal opioid system.
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