Nucleus accumbens D2-expressing neurons: Balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation.
Nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons are known to be critical for processing reward and regulating food intake. However, the role of D2-expressing neurons in this nucleus remains less understood. This study employed optogenetic manipulations to investigate the role of NAc...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317605 |
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| author | Nikte Requejo-Mendoza José-Antonio Arias-Montaño Ranier Gutierrez |
| author_facet | Nikte Requejo-Mendoza José-Antonio Arias-Montaño Ranier Gutierrez |
| author_sort | Nikte Requejo-Mendoza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons are known to be critical for processing reward and regulating food intake. However, the role of D2-expressing neurons in this nucleus remains less understood. This study employed optogenetic manipulations to investigate the role of NAc D2-expressing neurons in reward processing and sucrose consumption. Optogenetic activation of these neurons decreased sucrose preference (at 20 Hz), disrupted licking patterns (particularly at 8 and 20 Hz), and increased self-stimulation. Conversely, synchronizing stimulation with the animal licking rhythm mitigated licking disruption and even increased sucrose intake, suggesting a rewarding effect. Furthermore, 20 Hz stimulation (but not 8 Hz) induced place preference in a real-time place preference (RTPP) test. In contrast, inhibiting D2 neurons produced a negative hedonic state, although not reaching complete aversion, influencing food choices in specific contexts. For instance, while the RTPP test per se was not sensitive enough to observe place aversion when mice could choose between consuming a high-fat diet (HFD) pellet in a context associated with or without inhibition of D2 neurons, they preferred to consume HFD on the non-inhibited side. This suggests that the palatability of HFD can unmask (but also overshadow) the negative hedonic state associated with D2 neuron inhibition. A negative reinforcement paradigm further confirmed the active avoidance behavior induced by D2 neuron inhibition. In conclusion, NAc D2 neuron inhibition induces a negative hedonic state, while activation has a dual effect-it is rewarding yet disrupts licking behavior-highlighting its complex role in reward and consummatory behavior. Importantly, self-paced stimulation, where the animal controls the timing of the stimulation through its licking behavior, offers a more efficient and natural approach for stimulating NAc activity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-893d1979db7a4a6391946a7f08ddb8a2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
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| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-893d1979db7a4a6391946a7f08ddb8a22025-02-12T05:31:11ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01202e031760510.1371/journal.pone.0317605Nucleus accumbens D2-expressing neurons: Balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation.Nikte Requejo-MendozaJosé-Antonio Arias-MontañoRanier GutierrezNucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons are known to be critical for processing reward and regulating food intake. However, the role of D2-expressing neurons in this nucleus remains less understood. This study employed optogenetic manipulations to investigate the role of NAc D2-expressing neurons in reward processing and sucrose consumption. Optogenetic activation of these neurons decreased sucrose preference (at 20 Hz), disrupted licking patterns (particularly at 8 and 20 Hz), and increased self-stimulation. Conversely, synchronizing stimulation with the animal licking rhythm mitigated licking disruption and even increased sucrose intake, suggesting a rewarding effect. Furthermore, 20 Hz stimulation (but not 8 Hz) induced place preference in a real-time place preference (RTPP) test. In contrast, inhibiting D2 neurons produced a negative hedonic state, although not reaching complete aversion, influencing food choices in specific contexts. For instance, while the RTPP test per se was not sensitive enough to observe place aversion when mice could choose between consuming a high-fat diet (HFD) pellet in a context associated with or without inhibition of D2 neurons, they preferred to consume HFD on the non-inhibited side. This suggests that the palatability of HFD can unmask (but also overshadow) the negative hedonic state associated with D2 neuron inhibition. A negative reinforcement paradigm further confirmed the active avoidance behavior induced by D2 neuron inhibition. In conclusion, NAc D2 neuron inhibition induces a negative hedonic state, while activation has a dual effect-it is rewarding yet disrupts licking behavior-highlighting its complex role in reward and consummatory behavior. Importantly, self-paced stimulation, where the animal controls the timing of the stimulation through its licking behavior, offers a more efficient and natural approach for stimulating NAc activity.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317605 |
| spellingShingle | Nikte Requejo-Mendoza José-Antonio Arias-Montaño Ranier Gutierrez Nucleus accumbens D2-expressing neurons: Balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation. PLoS ONE |
| title | Nucleus accumbens D2-expressing neurons: Balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation. |
| title_full | Nucleus accumbens D2-expressing neurons: Balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation. |
| title_fullStr | Nucleus accumbens D2-expressing neurons: Balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nucleus accumbens D2-expressing neurons: Balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation. |
| title_short | Nucleus accumbens D2-expressing neurons: Balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation. |
| title_sort | nucleus accumbens d2 expressing neurons balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317605 |
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