THE POTENCY OF D-1 AND D-2 RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS IS INVERSELY RELATED TO THE REWARD VALUE OF SHAM-FED CORN-OIL AND SUCROSE IN RATS

Intraperitoneal injection of 50 μg·kg-1 of the selective dopamine D-1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, significantly decreased sham feeding of 6% and 10% sucrose solutions, but not sham feeding of 100% corn oil. Intraperitoneal injection of raclopride, a D-2 antagonist, elicited a significant dose-dependent (200-400 μg·kg-1) decrease in sham intake of both sucrose concentrations and corn oil at doses that did not increase the latency to sham feed or produce overt motor impairment. The rank order of inhibitory potency for both SCH 23390 and raclopride was 6% sucrose > 10% sucrose > 100% corn oil. In a second experiment, we found that in 2-bottle preference tests, the rank order of preference for these three liquids was 100% corn oil > 10% sucrose > 6% sucrose. Assuming that preference measured the relative reward value of the liquids, the potencies of the two antagonists were inversely related to the reward value of the liquid that was sham fed. This result supports but does not prove the dopamine hypothesis of the positive reinforcing effect of orosensory stimulation by nutrients. In addition, the differential selectivity of the two antagonists foe different classes of nutrients suggests that normal sensory and/or hedonic processing of sham-fed sucrose depends on stimulation of both D-1 and D-2 receptors, but the normal sensory and/or hedonic processing of sham-fed corn oil depends primarily, perhaps exclusively, on stimulation of D-2 receptors. © 1990.