Pathway-specific control of reward learning and its flexibility via selective dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jul 31;109(31):12764-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1210797109. Epub 2012 Jul 16.

Abstract

In the basal ganglia, inputs from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are transmitted through both direct and indirect pathways and control reward-based learning. In the NAc, dopamine (DA) serves as a key neurotransmitter, modulating these two parallel pathways. This study explored how reward learning and its flexibility are controlled in a pathway-specific and DA receptor-dependent manner. We used two techniques (i) reversible neurotransmission blocking (RNB), in which transmission of the direct (D-RNB) or the indirect pathway (I-RNB) in the NAc on both sides of the hemispheres was selectively blocked by transmission-blocking tetanus toxin; and (ii) asymmetric RNB, in which transmission of the direct (D-aRNB) or the indirect pathway (I-aRNB) was unilaterally blocked by RNB techniques and the intact side of the NAc was infused with DA agonists or antagonists. Reward-based learning was assessed by measuring goal-directed learning ability based on visual cue tasks (VCTs) or response-direction tasks (RDTs). Learning flexibility was then tested by switching from a previously learned VCT to a new VCT or RDT. D-RNB mice and D1 receptor antagonist-treated D-aRNB mice showed severe impairments in learning acquisition but normal flexibility to switch from a previously learned strategy. In contrast, I-RNB mice and D2 receptor agonist-treated I-aRNB mice showed normal learning acquisition but severe impairments not only in the flexibility to the learning switch but also in the subsequent acquisition of learning a new strategy. D1 and D2 receptors thus play distinct but cooperative roles in reward learning and its flexibility in a pathway-specific manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dopamine Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Learning / drug effects*
  • Learning / physiology
  • Mice
  • Neurotoxins / pharmacology*
  • Nucleus Accumbens / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism*
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects*
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Tetanus Toxin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Neurotoxins
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Tetanus Toxin