Orexin A in the ventral tegmental area induces conditioned place preference in a dose-dependent manner: involvement of D1/D2 receptors in the nucleus accumbens.

It has been shown that orexin A in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is necessary for development of morphine place preference. Additionally, D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) have critical roles in motivation and reward. However, little is known about the function of orexin in conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats and involvement of D1/D2 receptors in the NAc. In the present study, we investigated the effect of direct administration of orexin A into the VTA, and examined the role of intra-accumbal dopamine receptors in development (acquisition) of reward-related behaviors in the rats. Adult male Wistar rats were unilaterally implanted by two separate cannulae into the VTA and NAc. The CPP paradigm was used, and, conditioning score and locomotor activity were recorded by Ethovision software. The results showed that unilateral intra-VTA administration of orexin A (27, 53 and 107 ng/0.3 μl saline) during conditioning phase induced CPP in a dose-dependent manner. The most effective dose of intra-VTA orexin-A in eliciting CPP was 107 ng. However, intra-NAc administration of SCH 23390 (0.25, 1 and 4 μg/0.5 μl saline), a D1 receptor antagonist, and sulpiride (0.25, 1 and 4 μg/0.5 μl DMSO), a D2 receptor antagonist, inhibited the development of orexin-induced CPP. The inhibitory effect of D2 but not D1 receptor antagonist was exerted in a dose-dependent manner. It is supposed that the activation of VTA dopaminergic neuron by orexin impresses the D2 receptors more than D1 receptors in the NAc.