Measurement issues in curve-shift analysis of apomorphine effects on rewarding brain stimulation

The direct dopamine agonist apomorphine has been reported to reduce the rewarding efficacy of lateral hypothalamic (LH) self-stimulation. This effect has been claimed to support the notion that dopamine mediates the rewarding effects of LH self-stimulation. Using a standard rate-frequency curve-shift paradigm with ascending order of frequency presentation, we also found that apomorphine (0.1-0.8 mg/kg, SC) appeared to decrease LH self-stimulation reward. These apparent rightward curve shifts were exacerbated by shortening the test duration, which also produced a number of sessions in which the subjects did not respond at all. When the presentation order of stimulation frequencies was reversed, apomorphine did not produce large reward decreases. These results suggest that the previously reported effects of apomorphine on LH self-stimulation were the result of artifact, perhaps related to apomorphine-induced stereotypical behavior combined with rapid pharmacological recovery.