Behavioural brain research
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The involvement of different sub-types of dopamine receptors in the electrical self-stimulation behaviour was investigated using DA receptor subtype specific agonists viz R(+) SKF 38393 and LY 171555 (quinipirole). Rats were chronically implanted with bipolar electrodes in lateral hypothalamus-medial forebrain bundles (LH-MFB) and ventral tegmental area-substantia nigra (VTA-SN) or guide cannula in nucleus accumbens (nACB) or medial prefrontal cortex (mPFRCx) or cannula-cum-electrode in VTA-SN. Combining these, it was possible to inject a given receptor ligand in either nACB or mPFRCx or VTA-SN and assess the changes in intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) of LH-MFB or VTA-SN. ⋯ The coactivation of D1 and D2 receptors in VTA-SN leads to the suppression of ICSS of both VTA-SN and LH-MFB. Similar injections of these receptor ligands into mPFRCx did not alter the ICSS of either LH-MFB or VTA-SN. The pre- or post-synaptic DA receptors of mPFRCx do not appear to influence the ICSS of either VTA-SN or LH-MFB in any significant manner.