Orofacial Hedonic Reaction Mapping
Objective: Map changes in affective orofacial reactions of liking/disliking elicited by sucrose or quinine tastes following microinjections in the nucleus accumbens to identify localized opioid substrates that enhance hedonic impact of sweetness
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment2
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Protocol Steps
Microinjection of DAMGO
Administer d-Ala2-N-Me-Phe4-Glycol5-enkephalin (DAMGO) microinjections into the nucleus accumbens medial shell
Note: Injections targeted to different regions of the medial shell to map hedonic effects
View evidence from paper
“DAMGO microinjections in rats and compared hedonic increases to food intake stimulated at the same sites”
Taste stimulus presentation
Present sucrose or quinine taste stimuli to rats following DAMGO microinjection
Note: Sucrose elicits liking reactions; quinine elicits disliking reactions
View evidence from paper
“mapped changes in affective orofacial reactions of liking/disliking elicited by sucrose or quinine tastes after DAMGO microinjections”
Record orofacial reactions
Measure and map affective orofacial reactions indicating hedonic liking or disliking responses
Note: Reactions mapped to specific injection sites in nucleus accumbens medial shell
View evidence from paper
“mapped changes in affective orofacial reactions of liking/disliking elicited by sucrose or quinine tastes”
Measure food intake
Quantify food intake stimulated at the same microinjection sites
Note: Compare food intake increases to hedonic impact increases at same sites
View evidence from paper
“compared hedonic increases to food intake stimulated at the same sites”
Functional mapping analysis
Use Fos plume mapping procedure to localize opioid substrates causing enhanced hedonic liking and food intake
Note: Identify localized cubic millimeter site in rostrodorsal medial shell for hedonic impact
View evidence from paper
“functional mapping procedure based on microinjection Fos plumes to localize opioid substrates in the medial shell”