Orexin signaling via the orexin 1 receptor mediates operant responding for food reinforcement.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Orexin (hypocretin) signaling is implicated in drug addiction and reward, but its role in feeding and food-motivated behavior remains unclear.

Methods

We investigated orexin's contribution to food-reinforced instrumental responding using an orexin 1 receptor (Ox1r) antagonist, orexin -/- (OKO) and littermate wildtype (WT) mice, and RNAi-mediated knockdown of orexin. C57BL/6J (n = 76) and OKO (n = 39) mice were trained to nose poke for food under a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement. After responding stabilized, a progressive ratio schedule was initiated to evaluate motivation to obtain food reinforcement.

Results

Blockade of Ox1r in C57BL/6J mice impaired performance under both the variable ratio and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement, indic

SUBMITTER: Sharf R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2849869 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature