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Dopamine and preparatory behavior: II. A neurochemical analysis
J R Blackburn1, A G Phillips, A Jakubovic
1University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Behavioral Neuroscience
|February 1, 1989
Summary
Dopamine activity in the nucleus accumbens increases during anticipation of food, not during eating. This suggests dopamine plays a role in preparatory feeding behaviors, not consummatory actions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Dopamine systems are implicated in reward and motivation.
- Understanding dopamine's role in feeding behavior requires distinguishing between anticipation and consumption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in dopamine activity related to preparatory and consummatory feeding responses.
- To determine if dopamine release differs between anticipating a meal and actively eating.
Main Methods:
- Rats were conditioned to associate a stimulus (CS+) with food delivery.
- Dopamine metabolite ratios (DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA) were measured in brain regions (nucleus accumbens, striatum) after CS+ exposure or during feeding.
- Rats were sacrificed at specific time points for biochemical analysis.
Main Results:
- The DOPAC/DA ratio significantly increased in the nucleus accumbens after exposure to the CS+ (anticipation).
- A similar trend was observed for the HVA/DA ratio in the nucleus accumbens and both ratios in the striatum.
- No significant changes in dopamine metabolite ratios were found during a 7-minute consummatory feeding period.
Conclusions:
- Dopamine terminal activation in the nucleus accumbens is associated with the anticipation of food.
- These findings suggest dopamine's involvement in preparatory feeding behaviors rather than the act of eating itself.