Alpha₁-adrenergic receptor blockade in the ventral tegmental area attenuates acquisition of cocaine-induced pavlovian associative learning.

ABSTRACT: Activity of the alpha₁-adrenergic receptor (α₁-AR) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) modulates dopaminergic activity, implying its modulatory role in the behavioral functions of the dopamine (DA) system. Indeed, intra-VTA α₁-AR blockade attenuates conditioned stimulus dependent behaviors such as drug seeking responses signifying a role of the noradrenergic signaling in the VTA in conditioned behaviors. Importantly, the role of the VTA α₁-AR activity in Pavlovian associative learning with positive outcomes remains unknown. Here, we aimed to examine how intra-VTA α₁-AR blockade affects acquisition of cocaine-induced Pavlovian associative learning in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. The impact of α₁-AR blockad

SUBMITTER: Solecki WB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9386374 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature