Abstract
Stimulating κ-opioid receptors in the substantia nigra pars reticulata robustly increases the locomotor activity of preweanling rats. To determine whether nigrothalamic and nigrotectal connections are necessary for this κ-opioid-mediated locomotor activity, preweanling rats were given a systemic injection of saline or 5 mg/kg U50,488 (a κ-opioid receptor agonist) 2 days after receiving sham or bilateral electrolytic lesions of the ventromedial thalamus (VMT) or superior colliculus (SC). Results showed that lesions of the VMT and SC attenuated the U50,488-induced locomotor activity of preweanling rats, indicating that the locomotor activating effects of κ-opioid receptor stimulation require that nigrothalamic and nigrotectal connections be intact.
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