Rostral-caudal differences in effects of nucleus accumbens amphetamine on VTA ICSS

The effects of amphetamine along the rostrocaudal axis of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) on ventral tegmental area (VTA) intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) were studied. Eighteen rats were trained to lever press for ICSS in the VTA. Rate-frequency functions were determined by logarithmically decreasing the frequency of cathodal pulses in a stimulation train from a value that induced maximal responding to one that induced no responding (thresholds). After ICSS thresholds stabilized, (+)-amphetamine (20.0 micrograms/0.5 microliter) or its vehicle, distilled H2O (0.5 microliter), were injected directly into the rostral NAcc (n = 6) or the caudal NAcc (n = 8) or the caudate-putamen (CP) (n = 5) just dorsal to the caudal NAcc. Results showed that amphetamine in the caudal NAcc significantly decreased ICSS thresholds without affecting asymptomatic rates of responding, indicating a potentiation of the rewarding efficacy of VTA stimulation. Amphetamine in the rostral NAcc or CP produced smaller, non-significant, decreases in ICSS thresholds. Further analyses revealed a significant positive correlation (r13 = 0.51, P < 0.05) between the site of injection along the rostrocaudal axis of the NAcc and the size of the amphetamine-produced potentiation of VTA stimulation reward. Others have reported topographical differences, including dopamine terminal density and D1 receptor density, in the NAcc. The present results indicate that these anatomical and neurochemical differences appear to be correlated with behavioural differences.