Pharmacological Injection Study
Objective: To assess the effects of dopamine uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 on dopamine signal in nucleus accumbens and maternal licking/grooming behavior in low-licking/grooming mothers
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment1
not specified • not specified • not specified • not mentioned
Materials1
not specified • not specified • not specified • not mentioned
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Protocol Steps
Baseline behavioral characterization
Lactating rats were observed and characterized as high-licking/grooming or low-licking/grooming mothers based on behavioral observations during pup interactions
Note: Individual differences in pup licking/grooming were stable and used to classify maternal phenotype
View evidence from paper
“Lactating rats exhibit stable individual differences in pup licking/grooming”
In vivo voltammetry recording
Extracellular dopamine changes in nucleus accumbens shell were monitored during lactating rats interacting with pups
Note: Recordings captured dopamine signal increases associated with pup licking/grooming and their temporal relationship to behavior onset
View evidence from paper
“We used in vivo voltammetry to monitor changes in extracellular dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (n. Acc) shell of lactating rats interacting with pups”
GBR 12909 injection
Selective dopamine uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 was injected subcutaneously into low-licking/grooming mothers
Note: Dose was 5 mg/kg administered subcutaneously
View evidence from paper
“Injection of the selective DA uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 [1-(2-(Bis-(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy)ethyl)-4-(3 phenypropyl)piperazine dihydrochloride] (5 mg/kg, s.c.)”
Post-injection dopamine signal measurement
Extracellular dopamine signal in nucleus accumbens was measured following GBR 12909 injection during mother-pup interactions
Note: Dopamine signal increases were compared to baseline and to high-licking/grooming mothers
View evidence from paper
“Injection of the selective DA uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 increased the DA signal in the n. Acc and pup licking/grooming in low-licking/grooming mothers to levels comparable with those observed in high-licking/grooming dams”
Behavioral observation post-injection
Pup licking/grooming behavior was observed and measured in low-licking/grooming mothers following GBR 12909 injection
Note: Behavioral measures were compared to baseline and high-licking/grooming control mothers
View evidence from paper
“Injection of the selective DA uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 increased the DA signal in the n. Acc and pup licking/grooming in low-licking/grooming mothers to levels comparable with those observed in high-licking/grooming dams”