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Corticosterone and dopamine D2/D3 receptors mediate the motivation for voluntary wheel running in C57BL/6J mice.
- Source :
-
Behavioural brain research [Behav Brain Res] 2016 Sep 15; Vol. 311, pp. 228-238. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 May 24. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Physical exercise can improve cognition but whether this is related to motivation levels is unknown. Voluntary wheel running is a rewarding activity proposed as a model of motivation to exercise. To question the potential effects of exercise motivation on subsequent behaviour, we used a pharmacological approach targeting some reward mechanisms. The stress hormone corticosterone has rewarding effects mediated by activation of low affinity glucocorticoid receptors (GR). To investigate whether corticosterone synthesis motivates exercise via activation of GRs and subsequently, impacts on behaviour, we treated C57BL/6J mice acutely with the inhibitor of corticosterone synthesis metyrapone (35mg/kg) or repeatedly with the GR antagonist mifepristone (30mg/kg) prior to 1-h running wheel sessions. To investigate whether reducing motivation to exercise impacts on behaviour, we antagonised running-induced dopamine D2/D3 receptors activation with sulpiride (25 or 50mg/kg) and assessed locomotor, anxiety-related and memory performance after 20 running sessions over 4 weeks. We found that corticosterone synthesis contributes to running levels, but the maintenance of running behaviour was not mediated by activation of GRs. Intermittent exercise was not associated with changes in behavioural or cognitive performance. The persistent reduction in exercise levels triggered by sulpiride also had limited impact on behavioural performance, although the level of performance for some behaviours was related to the level of exercise. Altogether, these findings indicate that corticosterone and dopamine D2/D3 receptor activation contribute to the motivation for wheel running, but suggest that motivation for exercise is not a sufficient factor to alter behaviour in healthy mice.<br /> (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Dopamine Antagonists pharmacology
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Enzyme Inhibitors pharmacology
Hormone Antagonists pharmacology
Male
Memory drug effects
Memory physiology
Metyrapone pharmacology
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mifepristone pharmacology
Motivation drug effects
Nootropic Agents pharmacology
Receptors, Dopamine D3 antagonists & inhibitors
Receptors, Glucocorticoid antagonists & inhibitors
Receptors, Glucocorticoid metabolism
Sulpiride pharmacology
Volition drug effects
Volition physiology
Corticosterone blood
Motivation physiology
Receptors, Dopamine D2 metabolism
Receptors, Dopamine D3 metabolism
Running physiology
Running psychology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1872-7549
- Volume :
- 311
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Behavioural brain research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27233827
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2016.05.051