Figure 3.

(A) Quantitative autoradiography of [³H] Spiperone (D2R-like) binding levels within the nucleus accumbens shell (Nac Shell), nucleus accumbens core (Nac core), ventromedial caudate putamen (VL CPU), ventrolateral caudate putamen (VL CPU), dorsolateral caudate putamen (DL CPU), dorsomedial caudate putamen (DM CPU), dorsal caudate putamen (D CPU), ventral caudate putamen (VCPU), and olfactory tubercle (OT) across exercise treatment groups. Measurements of the following regions were carried out at the bregma coordinates taken from the Paxinos & Watson rat brain atlas. Values are expressed as total [³H] Spiperone binding means ± S.E.M. for D2R receptors. Two-way ANOVA found a main effect across the ventral caudate putamen (V CPU) for sex [F(1,26) = 4.84; p < 0.04], such that D2R-like binding was significantly greater for males than females. Across the nucleus accumbens shell (Nac Shell), a main effect was found for HIIT Exercise [F(1,26) = 5.27; p < 0.03], such that mean D2R-like binding was significantly greater for the HIIT group than the sedentary group. Each bar represents the group mean for dopamine D2 receptor binding. (B) A representative image of D2 autoradiographic binding distribution Specific images were taken from [³H] Spiperone binding in the rat brain. Representative images were taken at approximately bregma level +1.32 mm.