ArticlePloS one2025
Nucleus accumbens D2-expressing neurons: Balancing reward and licking disruption through rhythmic optogenetic stimulation.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Article
- Divergent Roles of Nucleus Accumbens D1- and D2-MSNs in Regulating Hedonic Feeding.The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2026Article
- Licking microstructure behavior classifies a spectrum of emotional states in mice.Frontiers in systems neuroscience · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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Abstract
Nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons are known to be critical for processing reward and regulating food intake. However, the role of D2-expressing neurons in this nucleus remains less understood. This study employed optogenetic manipulations to investigate the role of NAc D2-expressing neurons in reward processing and sucrose consumption. Optogenetic activation of these neurons decreased sucrose preference (at 20 Hz), disrupted licking patterns (particularly at 8 and 20 Hz), and increased self-stimulation. Conversely, synchronizing stimulation with the animal licking rhythm mitigated licking disruption and even increased sucrose intake, suggesting a rewarding effect. Furthermore, 20 Hz stimulation (but not 8 Hz) induced place preference in a real-time place preference (RTPP) test. In contrast, inhibiting D2 neurons produced a negative hedonic state, although not reaching complete aversion, influencing food choices in specific contexts. For instance, while the RTPP test per se was not sensitive enough to observe place aversion when mice could choose between consuming a high-fat diet (HFD) pellet in a context associated with or without inhibition of D2 neurons, they preferred to consume HFD on the non-inhibited side. This suggests that the palatability of HFD can unmask (but also overshadow) the negative hedonic state associated with D2 neuron inhibition. A negative reinforcement paradigm further confirmed the active avoidance behavior induced by D2 neuron inhibition. In conclusion, NAc D2 neuron inhibition induces a negative hedonic state, while activation has a dual effect-it is rewarding yet disrupts licking behavior-highlighting its complex role in reward and consummatory behavior. Importantly, self-paced stimulation, where the animal controls the timing of the stimulation through its licking behavior, offers a more efficient and natural approach for stimulating NAc activity.
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