Dopaminergic and cholinergic antagonism in a novel-object detection task with rats

Joyce Besheer, Kenneth R. Short, Rick A. Bevins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

In a free-choice test, rats display a tendency to interact more with a novel object than a familiar object. In the present report, we assessed the role of the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems in the expression of this novelty detection. Rats were injected with a dopaminergic antagonist (sulpiride, U-99194A, clozapine, or L-745,870) or a cholinergic antagonist (mecamylamine or scopolamine) prior to the free-choice novel-object test. The dopamine antagonists did not block novel-object detection. In contrast, scopolamine, but not mecamylamine, reliably blocked the expression of novelty detection, indicating a role for muscarinic receptors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)211-217
Number of pages7
JournalBehavioural Brain Research
Volume126
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 29 2001

Keywords

  • Clozapine
  • Mecamylamine
  • Novelty seeking
  • Object recognition
  • Scopolamine
  • Sulpiride

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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