Selective D1 and D2 dopamine agonists produce opposing effects in place conditioning but not in conditioned taste aversion learning.

The neurotransmitter, dopamine (DA), has been implicated in place conditioning but the role of D1 and D2 receptors has not been investigated. In Experiment 1, the effects of SKF 38393 (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0 mg/kg) and quinpirole (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mg/kg), preferential D1 and D2 receptor agonists, respectively, were evaluated and compared to (+)-amphetamine (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mg/kg). The experiment consisted of three phases. During the preexposure phase, rats explored two distinctive end compartments adjoined by a small tunnel. The time spent in each compartment was recorded. During the 8-day conditioning phase, rats were treated with drug and confined to one compartment for 30 min. On alternate days, rats received saline and were placed in the opposite compartment. Test days occurred over the remaining three days during which drug-free animals explored both compartments. Rats conditioned with (+)-amphetamine demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in time spent in the drug-paired environment from preexposure to test indicating the establishment of a conditioned place preference. Treatment with quinpirole also resulted in a conditioned place preference, however, only an intermediate dose was effective. In contrast, SKF 38393 produced a dose-dependent decrease in time spent on the drug-paired side suggesting the establishment of a place aversion. The idea that D1 receptors may be exclusively involved in mediating the aversive properties of psychomotor stimulants was tested in Experiment 2 employing a conditioned taste aversion paradigm. The results did not support this notion; it was found that both quinpirole and SKF 38393 produced a conditioned taste aversion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)