Effort-related Choice Behavior Research Articles

Potential therapeutics for effort-related motivational dysfunction: assessing novel atypical dopamine transport inhibitors.

People with depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders can experience motivational dysfunctions such as fatigue and anergia, which involve reduced exertion of effort in goal-directed activity. To model effort-related motivational dysfunction, effort-based choice tasks can be used, in which rats can select between obtaining a preferred reinforcer by high exertion of effort vs. a low effort/less preferred option. Preclinical data indicate that dopamine transport (DAT) inhibitors can reverse pharmacologically-induced low-effort biases and increase selection of high-effort options in effort-based choice tasks. Although classical DAT blockers like cocaine can produce undesirable effects such as liability for misuse and psychotic reactions, not all DAT inhibitors have the same neurochemical profile. The current study characterized the effort-related effects of novel DAT inhibitors that are modafinil analogs and have a range of binding profiles and neurochemical actions (JJC8-088, JJC8-089, RDS3-094, and JJC8-091) by using two different effort-related choice behavior tasks in male Sprague-Dawley rats. JJC8-088, JJC8-089, and RDS3-094 significantly reversed the low-effort bias induced by the VMAT-2 inhibitor tetrabenazine, increasing selection of high-effort fixed ratio 5 lever pressing vs. chow intake. In addition, JJC8-089 reversed the effects of tetrabenazine in female rats. JJC8-088 and JJC8-089 also increased selection of high-effort progressive ratio responding in a choice task. However, JJC8-091 failed to produce these outcomes, potentially due to its unique pharmacological profile (i.e., binding to an occluded conformation of DAT). Assessment of a broad range of DAT inhibitors with different neurochemical characteristics may lead to the identification of compounds that are useful for treating motivational dysfunction in humans.

Chronic non-discriminatory social defeat stress reduces effort-related motivated behaviors in male and female mice

Reward and motivation deficits are prominent symptoms in many mood disorders, including depression. Similar reward and effort-related choice behavioral tasks can be used to study aspects of motivation in both rodents and humans. Chronic stress can precipitate mood disorders in humans and maladaptive reward and motivation behaviors in male rodents. However, while depression is more prevalent in women, there is relatively little known about whether chronic stress elicits maladaptive behaviors in female rodents in effort-related motivated tasks and whether there are any behavioral sex differences. Chronic nondiscriminatory social defeat stress (CNSDS) is a variation of chronic social defeat stress that is effective in both male and female mice. We hypothesized that CNSDS would reduce effort-related motivated and reward behaviors, including reducing sensitivity to a devalued outcome, reducing breakpoint in progressive ratio, and shifting effort-related choice behavior. Separate cohorts of adult male and female C57BL/6 J mice were divided into Control or CNSDS groups, exposed to the 10-day CNSDS paradigm, and then trained and tested in instrumental reward or effort-related behaviors. CNSDS reduced motivation to lever press in progressive ratio and shifted effort-related choice behavior from a high reward to a more easily attainable low reward in both sexes. CNSDS caused more nuanced impairments in outcome devaluation. Taken together, CNSDS induces maladaptive shifts in effort-related choice and reduces motivated lever pressing in both sexes.

The non-selective adenosine antagonist theophylline reverses the effects of dopamine antagonism on tremor, motor activity and effort-based decision-making

Considerable evidence indicates that adenosine and dopamine systems interact in the regulation of basal ganglia function. Nonselective adenosine antagonists such as the methylxanthine caffeine as well as selective adenosine A2A antagonists have been shown to produce antiparkinsonian and antidepressant effects in animal models. The present studies were conducted to assess if another methylxantine, theophylline, can reverse motor and motivational impairments induced by dopamine antagonism in rats. ResultsTheophylline (3.75–30.0 mg/kg, IP) reversed tremulous jaw movements (TJMs), catalepsy, and locomotor suppression induced by the dopamine D2 antagonist pimozide. It also reversed TJMs induced by the muscarinic receptor agonist pilocarpine, which is a well-known tremorogenic agent. Parallel studies assessed the ability of theophylline (5.0–20.0 mg/kg, IP) to reverse the changes in effort-related choice behavior induced by the dopamine D1 antagonist ecopipam (0.2 mg/kg, IP) and the D2 antagonist haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg, IP). Rats were tested on two different operant choice tasks which assess the tendency to work for a preferred reinforcer by lever pressing (for palatable pellets or a high 5% sucrose solution) vs. approaching and consuming a less preferred reinforcer (freely available lab chow or a less concentrated 0.3% sucrose solution). Theophylline restored food and sucrose-reinforced lever pressing in animals treated with the D2 antagonist. However, it was unable to reverse the effects of the D1 antagonist. Overall, the effects of theophylline resembled those previously reported for adenosine A2A antagonists, and suggest that theophylline could be clinically useful for the treatment of motor and motivational symptoms in humans.

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice.

Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, can be precipitated by chronic stress. The Y-maze barrier task is an effort-related choice test that measures motivation to expend effort and obtain reward. In mice, chronic stress exposure significantly impacts motivation to work for a higher value reward when a lesser value reward is freely available compared to unstressed mice. Here we describe the chronic corticosterone administration paradigm, which produces a shift in effortful responding in the Y-maze barrier task. In the Y-maze task, one arm contains 4 food pellets, while the other arm contains only 2 pellets. After mice learn to select the high reward arm, barriers with progressively increasing height are then introduced into the high reward arm over multiple test sessions. Unfortunately, most chronic stress paradigms (including corticosterone and social defeat) were developed in male mice and are less effective in female mice. Therefore, we also discuss chronic non-discriminatory social defeat stress (CNSDS), a stress paradigm we developed that is effective in both male and female mice. Repeating results with multiple distinct chronic stressors in male and female mice combined with increased usage of translationally relevant behavior tasks will help to advance the understanding of how chronic stress can precipitate mood disorders.

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice

Inhibition of Catechol-O-methyltransferase Does Not Alter Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Fixed Ratio/Concurrent Chow Task in Male Mice.

Effort-related choice (ERC) tasks allow animals to choose between high-value reinforcers that require high effort to obtain and low-value/low-effort reinforcers. Dopaminergic neuromodulation regulates ERC behavior. The enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) metabolizes synaptically-released dopamine. COMT is the predominant regulator of dopamine turnover in regions of the brain with low levels of dopamine transporters (DATs), including the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Here, we evaluated the effects of the COMT inhibitor tolcapone on ERC performance in a touchscreen-based fixed-ratio/concurrent chow task in male mice. In this task, mice were given the choice between engaging in a fixed number of instrumental responses to acquire a strawberry milk reward and consuming standard lab chow concurrently available on the chamber floor. We found no significant effects of tolcapone treatment on either strawberry milk earned or chow consumed compared to vehicle treatment. In contrast, we found that haloperidol decreased instrumental responding for strawberry milk and increased chow consumption as seen in previously published studies. These data suggest that COMT inhibition does not significantly affect effort-related decision making in a fixed-ratio/concurrent chow task in male mice.

Chronic corticosterone shifts effort-related choice behavior in male mice.

Effort-related choice tasks are used to study aspects of motivation in both rodents and humans (Der-Avakian and Pizzagalli Biol Psychiatry 83(11):932-939, 2018). Various dopaminergic manipulations and antidepressant treatments can shift responding to these tasks (Randall et al. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 18(2), 2014; Yohn et al. Psychopharmacology 232(7):1313-1323, 2015). However, while chronic stress can precipitate mood disorders in humans, there is relatively little known about whether chronic stress elicits maladaptive behaviors in rodent effort-related choice tasks. Chronic corticosterone (CORT) elicits an increase in negative maladaptive behaviors in male mice (David et al. Neuron 62(4):479-493, 2009; Gourley et al. Biol Psychiatry 64(10):884-890, 2008; Olausson et al. Psychopharmacology 225(3):569-577, 2013). We hypothesized that chronic CORT administration to male mice would reduce motivation for a higher effort, higher reward option, and shift responding to a less effortful, but a lesser reward. Adult male C57BL/6J mice were administered either vehicle (n = 10) or CORT (n = 10) (~ 9.5mg/kg/day) in their drinking water for 4weeks, and then throughout all behavioral experiments (15weeks total), and were tested in a Y-Maze barrier task and a fixed ratio concurrent (FR/chow) choice task. Chronic CORT reduced Y-maze HR arm choice when more effort was required to obtain the 4 food pellets (15-cm barrier in the high-reward (HR) arm, p < 0.001; 20-cm barrier in HR arm, p < 0.001) and shifted choice to the low reward (LR) arm where only 2 pellets were available. Chronic CORT also reduced lever pressing for food pellets in FR30/chow sessions of the concurrent choice task (p = 0.009), without impacting lab chow consumed. Chronic stress induces maladaptive shifts in effort-related choice behavior in the Y-maze barrier task in male mice. Furthermore, males subjected to chronic CORT administration show reduced lever pressing in FR30/chow sessions where lab chow is concurrently available. These data demonstrate that chronic corticosterone reduces motivation to work for and obtain a highly rewarding reinforcer when a lesser reinforcer is concurrently available.

Assessment of a glycine uptake inhibitor in animal models of effort-related choice behavior: implications for motivational dysfunctions.

Motivated behavior can be characterized by a substantial exertion of effort, and organisms often make effort-related decisions based upon analyses of work-related response costs and reinforcement preference. Moreover, alterations in effort-based choice can be seen in people with major depression and schizophrenia. Effort-related decision making is studied using tasks offering choices between high effort options leading to highly valued reinforces vs low effort/low reward options. Interference with dopamine (DA) transmission by administration of the DA D2 family antagonist haloperidol biases behavior towards the lower effort option that can be obtained with minimal work, and previous research has shown that DA interacts with other transmitters, including adenosine and GABA, to regulate effort-based choice. The present studies focused upon the ability of the glycine transport inhibitor bitopertin to attenuate haloperidol-induced shifts in effort-related choice behavior. Effort-based choice in rats was assessed using the concurrent fixed ratio (FR) 5/chow feeding choice task and the T-maze barrier choice procedure. Haloperidol shifted effort-based choice, biasing animals towards the low effort option in each task. Co-administration of bitopertin (1.0-10.0mg/kg) significantly attenuated haloperidol-induced shifts in choice behavior, but the same doses of bitopertin had no effect when administered alone. These results indicated that elevation of extracellular glycine via inhibition of glycine uptake was able to reverse the effects of D2 antagonism. Increases in extracellular glycine, possibly through actions on the glycine allosteric site on the NMDA receptor, may be a useful strategy for treating motivational dysfunctions in humans.

P.1.j.005 - Link between prefrontal dopamine 1 receptors and phosphodiesterase-1: role for cognitive performance

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA), particularly in the nucleus accumbens, is a critical component of the brain circuitry involved in behavioral activation and effort-related processes. Although much is known about the characteristics of DA D2 receptor antagonism on effort-related choice behavior, less is known about the effects of D1 antagonism, and agonist/antagonist interactions. The highly selective D1 antagonist ecopipam was studied for its effects on effort-related choice behavior using the concurrent fixed ratio (FR) 5/chow feeding choice and T-maze barrier choice procedures. In rats tested on the FR5/chow feeding choice task, ecopipam shifted choice behavior, decreasing lever pressing for preferred high carbohydrate pellets but increasing consumption of lab chow. Also, ecopipam decreased selection of the high effort option (i.e., climbing the barrier to obtain a larger reward) in rats tested on the T-maze task, but did not disrupt arm preference or discrimination when no barrier was present. The D1 agonists SKF38393, SKF81297 and A77636 were assessed for their ability to reverse the effects of ecopipam, and in each case the D1 agonist significantly attenuated the effects of ecopipam, typically with an inverted-u shaped dose/response curve. SKF81297 also was able to reverse the effects of the catecholamine depleting agent tetrabenazine on T-maze performance. In summary, the present results implicate DA D1 receptors in the regulation of behavioral activation and effort-related functions, and demonstrate the utility of using tests of effort-related choice behavior for assessing the effects of D1 agonists.

Evaluation of the effort-related motivational effects of the novel dopamine uptake inhibitor PRX-14040

Psychiatric disorders are often marked by effort-related motivational symptoms such as anergia, fatigue, psychomotor retardation, and alterations in effort-based decision making. Animal studies of effort-related choice behavior are being used to model these symptoms. With these procedures, animals are offered a choice between high effort instrumental actions leading to highly valued reinforcers vs. low effort/low reward options. In the present experiments the motivational effects of a novel dopamine (DA) uptake inhibitor, PRX-14040 (PRX), were assessed using tests of effort-based choice in rats. For the two experiments, rats were tested using the concurrent fixed ratio 5 (FR5)/chow feeding choice task. In the first 2 experiments, the vesicular monoamine transport (VMAT-2) inhibitor tetrabenazine (TBZ), which blocks DA storage and depletes DA, was used to produce a shift in effort-related choice, decreasing lever pressing and increasing chow intake. Co-administration of PRX reversed the effects of TBZ, increasing lever pressing and decreasing chow intake in TBZ-treated rats. In experiment 2, PRX was compared with the catecholamine uptake inhibitor and antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin), the stimulant drug methylphenidate, and the wakefulness agent modafinil. All four drugs reversed the effects of TBZ, and PRX compared favorably with these compounds. In the final experiment, PRX was assessed for its ability to increase work output in rats responding on a progressive ratio (PROG)/chow feeding choice task in rats that were otherwise untreated. PRX biased animals towards greater exertion of effort, increasing PROG lever pressing output while decreasing chow intake. In summary, PRX was able to reverse the effects of TBZ, and to increase selection of high effort activities. Taken together, these results suggest that PRX could be useful as a treatment for effort-related motivational dysfunction in humans.

Effects of lisdexamfetamine and s-citalopram, alone and in combination, on effort-related choice behavior in the rat.

Effort-related motivational symptoms, such as anergia, psychomotor retardation, and fatigue, are an important aspect of depression and other disorders. Motivational symptoms are resistant to some treatments, including serotonin transport (SERT) inhibitors. Tests of effort-based choice using operant behavior tasks (e.g., concurrent lever pressing/ chow feeding tasks) can be used as animal models of motivational symptoms. Tests of effort-related choice allow animals to choose between high-effort actions that lead to more highly valued rewards vs. low-effort alternatives that lead to less valued rewards (i.e., less preferred or lower magnitude). Rats treated with the vesicular monoamine transport inhibitor tetrabenazine, or the cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which are associated with depressive symptoms in humans, can alter effort-related choice, reducing selection of the high effort alternative (lever pressing) while increasing intake of freely available chow. The present studies focused upon the ability of lisdexamfetamine (LDX) to increase exertion of effort in rats responding on effort-based choice tasks under several different conditions. LDX attenuated the shift from fixed ratio 5 lever pressing to chow intake induced by tetrabenazine and IL-1β. In contrast, the SERT inhibitor s-citalopram failed to reverse the effects of tetrabenazine. When given in combination with tetrabenazine+s-citalopram, LDX significantly increased lever pressing output compared to tetrabenaine+citalopram alone. LDX also increased work output in rats responding on a progressive ratio/chow feeding choice task. LDX can increase work output in rats responding on effort-based choice tasks, which may have implications for understanding the neurochemistry of motivational symptoms in humans.

The role of dopamine D1 receptor transmission in effort-related choice behavior: Effects of D1 agonists

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA), particularly in the nucleus accumbens, is a critical component of the brain circuitry involved in behavioral activation and effort-related processes. Although much is known about the characteristics of DA D2 receptor antagonism on effort-related choice behavior, less is known about the effects of D1 antagonism, and agonist/antagonist interactions. The highly selective D1 antagonist ecopipam was studied for its effects on effort-related choice behavior using the concurrent fixed ratio (FR) 5/chow feeding choice and T-maze barrier choice procedures. In rats tested on the FR5/chow feeding choice task, ecopipam shifted choice behavior, decreasing lever pressing for preferred high carbohydrate pellets but increasing consumption of lab chow. Also, ecopipam decreased selection of the high effort option (i.e., climbing the barrier to obtain a larger reward) in rats tested on the T-maze task, but did not disrupt arm preference or discrimination when no barrier was present. The D1 agonists SKF38393, SKF81297 and A77636 were assessed for their ability to reverse the effects of ecopipam, and in each case the D1 agonist significantly attenuated the effects of ecopipam, typically with an inverted-u shaped dose/response curve. SKF81297 also was able to reverse the effects of the catecholamine depleting agent tetrabenazine on T-maze performance. In summary, the present results implicate DA D1 receptors in the regulation of behavioral activation and effort-related functions, and demonstrate the utility of using tests of effort-related choice behavior for assessing the effects of D1 agonists.

Mesolimbic Dopamine and the Regulation of Motivated Behavior.

It has been known for some time that nucleus accumbens dopamine (DA) is involved in aspects of motivation , but theoretical approaches to understanding the functions of DA have continued to evolve based upon emerging data and novel concepts. Although it has become traditional to label DA neurons as "reward" neurons, the actual findings are more complicated than that, because they indicate that DA neurons can respond to a variety of motivationally significant stimuli. Moreover, it is important to distinguish between aspects of motivation that are differentially affected by dopaminergic manipulations. Studies that involve nucleus accumbens DA antagonism or depletion indicate that accumbens DA does not mediate primary food motivation or appetite. Nevertheless, DA is involved in appetitive and aversive motivational processes including behavioral activation , exertion of effort, sustained task engagement, and Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer. Interference with accumbens DA transmission affects instrumental behavior in a manner that interacts with the response requirements of the task and also shifts effort-related choice behavior, biasing animals toward low-effort alternatives. Dysfunctions of mesolimbic DA may contribute to motivational symptoms seen in various psychopathologies, including depression , schizophrenia, parkinsonism, and other disorders.

Effort-related motivational effects of the VMAT-2 inhibitor tetrabenazine: implications for animal models of the motivational symptoms of depression.

Motivated behaviors are often characterized by a high degree of behavioral activation, and work output and organisms frequently make effort-related decisions based upon cost/benefit analyses. Moreover, people with major depression and other disorders often show effort-related motivational symptoms such as anergia, psychomotor retardation, and fatigue. It has been suggested that tasks measuring effort-related choice behavior could be used as animal models of the motivational symptoms of depression, and the present studies characterized the effort-related effects of the vesicular monoamine transport (VMAT) inhibitor tetrabenazine. Tetrabenazine produces depressive symptoms in humans and, because of its selective inhibition of VMAT-2, it preferentially depletes dopamine (DA). Rats were assessed using a concurrent fixed-ratio 5/chow feeding choice task that is known to be sensitive to dopaminergic manipulations. Tetrabenazine shifted response choice in rats, producing a dose-related decrease in lever pressing and a concomitant increase in chow intake. However, it did not alter food intake or preference in parallel free-feeding choice studies. The effects of tetrabenazine on effort-related choice were reversed by the adenosine A2A antagonist MSX-3 and the antidepressant bupropion. A behaviorally active dose of tetrabenazine decreased extracellular DA in nucleus accumbens and increased expression of DARPP-32 in accumbens medium spiny neurons in a pattern indicative of reduced transmission at both D1 and D2 DA receptors. These experiments demonstrate that tetrabenazine, which is used in animal models to produce depression-like effects, can alter effort-related choice behavior. These studies have implications for the development of animal models of the motivational symptoms of depression and related disorders.

Effort-related motivational effects of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1-beta: studies with the concurrent fixed ratio 5/ chow feeding choice task

Effort-related motivational symptoms such as anergia and fatigue are common in patients with depression and other disorders. Research implicates pro-inflammatory cytokines in depression, and administration of cytokines can induce effort-related motivational symptoms in humans. The present experiments focused on the effects of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β) on effort-related choice behavior. Rats were tested on a concurrent fixed ratio 5 lever pressing/chow feeding choice procedure, which assesses the tendency of rats to work for a preferred food (high carbohydrate pellets) in the presence of a concurrently available but less preferred substitute (laboratory chow). IL-1β (1.0-4.0 μg/kg IP) shifted choice behavior, significantly decreasing lever pressing and increasing intake of the freely available chow. The second experiment assessed the ability of the adenosine A2A antagonist (E)-phosphoric acid mono-[3-[8-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)vinyl]-7-methyl-2,6-dioxo-1-prop-2-ynyl-1,2,6,7-tetrahydropurin-3-yl] propyl] ester disodium salt (MSX-3) to reverse the behavioral effects of IL-1β. MSX-3 attenuated the effort-related impairments produced by IL-1β, increasing lever pressing and also decreasing chow intake. In the same dose range that shifted effort-related choice behavior, IL-1β did not alter food intake or preference in parallel free-feeding choice studies, indicating that these low doses were not generally suppressing appetite or altering preference for the high carbohydrate pellets. In addition, IL-1β did not affect core body temperature. These results indicate that IL-1β can reduce the tendency to work for food, even at low doses that do not produce a general sickness, malaise, or loss of appetite. This research has implications for the involvement of cytokines in motivational symptoms such as anergia and fatigue.

Dopaminergic Modulation of Effort-Related Choice Behavior as Assessed by a Progressive Ratio Chow Feeding Choice Task: Pharmacological Studies and the Role of Individual Differences

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) is involved in behavioral activation and effort-related processes. Rats with impaired DA transmission reallocate their instrumental behavior away from food-reinforced tasks with high response requirements, and instead select less effortful food-seeking behaviors. In the present study, the effects of several drug treatments were assessed using a progressive ratio (PROG)/chow feeding concurrent choice task. With this task, rats can lever press on a PROG schedule reinforced by a preferred high-carbohydrate food pellet, or alternatively approach and consume the less-preferred but concurrently available laboratory chow. Rats pass through each ratio level 15 times, after which the ratio requirement is incremented by one additional response. The DA D2 antagonist haloperidol (0.025–0.1 mg/kg) reduced number of lever presses and highest ratio achieved but did not reduce chow intake. In contrast, the adenosine A2A antagonist MSX-3 increased lever presses and highest ratio achieved, but decreased chow consumption. The cannabinoid CB1 inverse agonist and putative appetite suppressant AM251 decreased lever presses, highest ratio achieved, and chow intake; this effect was similar to that produced by pre-feeding. Furthermore, DA-related signal transduction activity (pDARPP-32(Thr34) expression) was greater in nucleus accumbens core of high responders (rats with high lever pressing output) compared to low responders. Thus, the effects of DA antagonism differed greatly from those produced by pre-feeding or reduced CB1 transmission, and it appears unlikely that haloperidol reduces PROG responding because of a general reduction in primary food motivation or the unconditioned reinforcing properties of food. Furthermore, accumbens core signal transduction activity is related to individual differences in work output.

The novel adenosine A2A antagonist prodrug MSX-4 is effective in animal models related to motivational and motor functions

Adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors interact to regulate diverse aspects of ventral and dorsal striatal functions related to motivational and motor processes, and it has been suggested that adenosine A2A antagonists could be useful for the treatment of depression, parkinsonism and other disorders. The present experiments were performed to characterize the effects of MSX-4, which is an amino acid ester prodrug of the potent and selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist MSX-2, by assessing its ability to reverse pharmacologically induced motivational and motor impairments. In the first group of studies, MSX-4 reversed the effects of the D2 antagonist eticlopride on a concurrent lever pressing/chow feeding task that is used as a measure of effort-related choice behavior. MSX-4 was less potent after intraperitoneal administration than the comparison compound, MSX-3, though both were equally efficacious. With this task, MSX-4 was orally active in the same dose range as MSX-3. MSX-4 also reversed the locomotor suppression induced by eticlopride in the open field, but did not induce anxiogenic effects as measured by the relative amount of interior activity. Behaviorally active doses of MSX-4 also attenuated the increase in c-Fos and pDARPP-32(Thr34) expression in nucleus accumbens core that was induced by injections of eticlopride. In addition, MSX-4 suppressed the oral tremor induced by the anticholinesterase galantamine, which is consistent with an antiparkinsonian profile. These actions of MSX-4 indicate that this compound could have potential utility as a treatment for parkinsonism, as well as some of the motivational symptoms of depression and other disorders.

THE BEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY OF EFFORT‐RELATED CHOICE BEHAVIOR: DOPAMINE, ADENOSINE AND BEYOND

For many years, it has been suggested that drugs that interfere with dopamine (DA) transmission alter the "rewarding" impact of primary reinforcers such as food. Research and theory related to the functions of mesolimbic DA are undergoing a substantial conceptual restructuring, with the traditional emphasis on hedonia and primary reward yielding to other concepts and lines of inquiry. The present review is focused upon the involvement of nucleus accumbens DA in effort-related choice behavior. Viewed from the framework of behavioral economics, the effects of accumbens DA depletions and antagonism on food-reinforced behavior are highly dependent upon the work requirements of the instrumental task, and DA-depleted rats show a heightened sensitivity to response costs, especially ratio requirements. Moreover, interference with accumbens DA transmission exerts a powerful influence over effort-related choice behavior. Rats with accumbens DA depletions or antagonism reallocate their instrumental behavior away from food-reinforced tasks that have high response requirements, and show increased selection of low reinforcement/low cost options. Nucleus accumbens DA and adenosine interact in the regulation of effort-related functions, and other brain structures (anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, ventral pallidum) also are involved. Studies of the brain systems regulating effort-based processes may have implications for understanding drug abuse, as well as symptoms such as psychomotor slowing, fatigue or anergia in depression and other neurological disorders.

The novel adenosine A2A antagonist Lu AA47070 reverses the motor and motivational effects produced by dopamine D2 receptor blockade

Dopamine D2 and adenosine A2A receptors interact to regulate aspects of motor and motivational function, and it has been suggested that adenosine A2A antagonists could be useful for the treatment of parkinsonism and depression. The present experiments were performed to characterize the effects of Lu AA47070, which is a phosphonooxymethylene prodrug of a potent and selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, for its ability to reverse the motor and motivational effects of D2 antagonism. In the first group of studies, Lu AA47070 (3.75–30mg/kg IP) was assessed for its ability to reverse the effects of the D2 receptor antagonist pimozide (1.0mg/kg IP) using several measures of motor impairment, including catalepsy, locomotion, and tremulous jaw movements, which is a rodent model of parkinsonian tremor. Lu AA47070 produced a significant reversal of the effects of pimozide on all three measures of parkinsonian motor impairment. In addition, Lu AA47070 was able to reverse the effects of a low dose of the D2 antagonist haloperidol on a concurrent lever pressing/chow feeding task that is used as a measure of effort-related choice behavior. The ability of Lu AA47070 to reverse the effects of D2 receptor blockade suggests that this compound could have potential utility as a treatment for parkinsonism, and for some of the motivational symptoms of depression.

Differential effects of selective adenosine antagonists on the effort-related impairments induced by dopamine D1 and D2 antagonism

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) is a critical component of the brain circuitry regulating behavioral activation and effort-related processes. Rats with impaired DA transmission reallocate their instrumental behavior away from food-reinforced tasks with high response requirements, and instead select less effortful food-seeking behaviors. Previous work showed that adenosine A2A antagonists can reverse the effects of DA D2 antagonists on effort-related choice. However, less is known about the effects of adenosine A1 antagonists. Despite anatomical data showing that A1 and D1 receptors are co-localized on the same striatal neurons, it is uncertain if A1 antagonists can reverse the effects DA D1 antagonists. The present work systematically compared the ability of adenosine A1 and A2A receptor antagonists to reverse the effects of DA D1 and D2 antagonists on a concurrent lever pressing/feeding choice task. With this procedure, rats can choose between responding on a fixed ratio 5 lever-pressing schedule for a highly preferred food (i.e. high carbohydrate pellets) vs. approaching and consuming a less preferred rodent chow. The D1 antagonist ecopipam (0.2 mg/kg i.p.) and the D2 antagonist eticlopride (0.08 mg/kg i.p.) altered choice behavior, reducing lever pressing and increasing lab chow intake. Co-administration of the adenosine A1 receptor antagonists 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX; 0.375, 0.75, and 1.5 mg/kg i.p.), and 8-cyclopentyltheophylline (CPT; 3.0, 6.0, 12.0 mg/kg i.p.) failed to reverse the effects of either the D1 or D2 antagonist. In contrast, the adenosine A2A antagonist KW-6002 (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg i.p.) was able to produce a robust reversal of the effects of eticlopride, as well as a mild partial reversal of the effects of ecopipam. Adenosine A2A and DA D2 receptors interact to regulate effort-related choice behavior, which may have implications for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms such as psychomotor slowing, fatigue or anergia that can be observed in depression and other disorders.