Role of glutamate receptors in the nucleus accumbens on behavioural responses to novel conflictive and non-conflictive environments in the rat

The possible role of glutamic acid locally applied into the nucleus accumbens on exploratory behaviours measured in 'conflictive' and 'non-conflictive' environments was studied in adult male rats. As a model of conflictive environment, the elevated asymmetric-plus maze (APM) was used. As a model of a non-conflictive environment, a modified holeboard enriched with an object (OVM) was used. In order to characterize the possible glutamic acid receptors involved, the following antagonists were also used: AP3 (antagonist of the metabotropic glutamic acid receptor), AP7 (antagonist of NMDA glutamic acid receptor, and CNQX (antagonists of kainate/AMPA glutamic acid receptor). Results showed that injection of glutamic acid into the nucleus accumbens induced in the APM a decrease of exploration and an increase of the permanency score (non-exploratory behaviours) of the 'High and Low wall' arm. However, in the 'Two High Walls' arm, glutamic acid decreased permanency. In the OVM, no major changes in the motor activity were observed with glutamic acid. Nevertheless, the vertical activity (an index of rearing) and head-dipping were inhibited by the amino-acid treatment. In the APM, the decrease of exploration induced by glutamic acid was blocked by all three receptor antagonists. In the non-exploratory behaviours, the facilitatory effect observed in the 'High and Low walls' arm was blocked only by AP7 and CNQX. The inhibitory action of glutamic acid on the permanency score in the 'Two High Walls' arm was not blocked by the receptors antagonists. In the OVM, AP7 and CNQX were effective in blocking the inhibition of glutamic acid on the vertical activity, but in head-dipping, only AP3 and CNQX were able to block the effect of the amino acid on this behaviour. In conclusion, the present results are compatible with the concept that glutamatergic input fibres to the nucleus accumbens modulate the expression of exploratory behaviour induced by novelty in conflictive and non-conflictive conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.