5-HT1A receptor agonism in the basolateral amygdala increases mutual-reward choices in rats

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 6;10(1):16622. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-73829-z.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / administration & dosage
  • 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / pharmacology*
  • Amygdala / drug effects*
  • Amygdala / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Anxiety
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
  • Choice Behavior / drug effects*
  • Injections
  • Learning / drug effects*
  • Locomotion / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / physiology*
  • Reward*
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Social Behavior

Substances

  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A
  • 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin