The dopamine D2 receptor agonists, quinpirole and bromocriptine produce conditioned place preferences

1. The conditioned place preference paradigm was used to examine the role of the D2 receptor in mediating the reinforcing effects of dopamine (DA) agonists. 2. During the 3-day pre-exposure phase, rats explored two distinctive end compartments which were adjoined by a small tunnel. During the 8-day conditioning phase, groups of rats were treated with the selective D2 receptor agonists, quinpirole (0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg IP) or bromocriptine (0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg IP) and confined to one compartment for 30 min. On alternate days, rats received vehicle injections and were placed in the opposite compartment. Test days occurred over the remaining 3 days during which untreated animals explored both compartments. 3. Rats conditioned with quinpirole or bromocriptine showed significant increases in time spent in the drug-paired environment from pre-exposure to test indicating the establishment of conditioned place preferences. 4. This suggests a functional role for the D2 receptor in mediating the rewarding effects of DA agonists.