Abstract
Rats show mutual-reward preferences, i.e., they prefer options that result in a reward for both themselves and a conspecific partner to options that result in a reward for themselves, but not for the partner. In a previous study, we have shown that lesions of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) reduced choices for mutual rewards. Here, we aimed to explore the role of 5-HT1A receptors within the BLA in mutual-reward choices. Rats received daily injections of either 50 or 25 ng of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT or a vehicle solution into the BLA and mutual-reward choices were measured in a rodent prosocial choice task. Compared to vehicle injections, 8-OH-DPAT significantly increased mutual-reward choices when a conspecific was present. By contrast, mutual-reward choices were significantly reduced by 8-OH-DPAT injections in the presence of a toy rat. The effect of 8-OH-DPAT injections was statistically significant during the expression, but not during learning of mutual-reward behavior, although an influence of 8-OH-DPAT injections on learning could not be excluded. There were no differences between 8-OH-DPAT-treated and vehicle-treated rats in general reward learning, behavioral flexibility, locomotion or anxiety. In this study, we have shown that repeated injections of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT have the potential to increase mutual-reward choices in a social setting without affecting other behavioral parameters.
Highlights
Rats show mutual-reward preferences, i.e., they prefer options that result in a reward for both themselves and a conspecific partner to options that result in a reward for themselves, but not for the partner
We have shown that rats have toacquire a preference for the BR-side across trials in each session due to frequent BR-side reversals between sessions, and a consistent preference for the BR-side emerges after approximately ten trials into each s ession[7]
We investigated the role of 5-HT1A receptors in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) on mutual-reward choices in rats
Summary
Rats show mutual-reward preferences, i.e., they prefer options that result in a reward for both themselves and a conspecific partner to options that result in a reward for themselves, but not for the partner. We have shown that repeated injections of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT have the potential to increase mutual-reward choices in a social setting without affecting other behavioral parameters. Lesions of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) induced in neonatal rats lead to disturbed social behavior during adulthood[13] and BLA lesions induced in adult rats impair social behavior by eliminating mutual-reward preferences in rats[14]. These lesion studies have provided initial insight into the involvement of the amygdala, the BLA, in social behavior. Intra-BLA injections of an agonist for the 5-HT1A receptor induced anxiolytic and anti-panic effects in r ats[30], whereas a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist prevented the impairing effects of stress on memory[31]
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