Orexin A in the ventral tegmental area enhances saccharin-induced conditioned flavor preference: The Role of D1 receptors in central nucleus of amygdala.

Orexin A in the ventral tegmental area enhances saccharin-induced conditioned flavor preference: The Role of D1 receptors in central nucleus of amygdala. Behav Brain Res. 2018 Apr 20;: Authors: Risco S, Mediavilla C Abstract In industrialized societies, food intake is largely determined by its hedonic characteristics, which can be modified by our experience via taste learning. In this learning, the hedonic value of a neutral flavor changes after its association with a motivationally significant stimulus. Experiment 1 analyzes the effect of orexin administration (53 and 107 ng) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) on hedonic intake through acquisition of a flavor-taste preference and a flavor-taste aversion. Accordingly, animals underwent four one-bottle acquisition sessions with unilateral application of orexin-A or saline in the VTA at 10 min before a 15-min flavor intake period. Preference and aversion were tested by a two-bottle test containing the flavors used for CS + and CS -. Results indicate that intra-VTA orexin strengthens flavor-taste conditioned flavor preference (CFP) by saccharin but does not facilitate flavor-taste aversion induced by association of a neutral flavor with the unpalatable taste of quinine. Experiment 2 examines the acquisition of a flavor-taste preference after co-administration of an effective dose of orexin-A in the VTA and of D1-like dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390 (6 and 12 nmol) in the ce...
Source: Behavioural Brain Research - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Behav Brain Res Source Type: research