Bromocriptine, a D2 receptor agonist, lowers the threshold for rewarding brain stimulation

Drug-induced lowering of brain stimulation reward threshold can serve as a model for the pharmacological activation of reward pathways. Here, the effects of bromocriptine, a direct D2 dopamine receptor agonist, on reward thresholds were investigated. Bromocriptine administration resulted in the significant lowering of threshold levels in all test animals, suggesting that this agent can activate the same reward processes as do abused substances such as cocaine and morphine.