The nucleus accumbens and forelimb muscular rigidity in rats

The present set of experiments were performed to evaluate the role of the nucleus accumbens in the regulation of forelimb muscle tone. Rats were chronically implanted with cannulae aimed at the nucleus accumbens or the neostriatum and with EMG electrodes in the triceps or the gastrocnemius soleus muscle. The experiments were all performed in non-anaesthetised freely moving animals. The results show that haloperidol induced an increase in triceps muscle tone when injected into the nucleus accumbens but not when injected into the neostriatum. Likewise it was found that haloperidol induced an increase in gastrocnemius soleus muscle tone when injected into the neostriatum but not when injected into the nucleus accumbens. The increase in triceps muscle tone seen after intra-accumbens haloperidol was only briefly attenuated by apomorphine, whereas phenylephrine produced a more long lasting antagonism. The present data show that in addition to the cortex, subcortical structures also appear to possess a certain topography, with forelimb rigidity being mediated, at least in part, by the nucleus accumbens, and hindlimb rigidity, at least in part by the neostriatum. In addition it appears that the effects of haloperidol in the nucleus accumbens on triceps muscle tone are primarily mediated by alpha 1 adrenergic receptors, although a minor role of dopamine D2 receptors cannot be fully excluded.