Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Jun 15.
Published in final edited form as: Biol Psychiatry. 2021 Jan 21;89(12):1162–1175. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.01.007

Figure 5. CRF-containing neuron stimulation in NAc biases and amplifies sucrose motivation.

Figure 5.

ChR2 excitation of CRF-containing neurons in NAc shell caused preference for paired Laser+Sucrose over Sucrose Alone in A) two-choice test (n=3 female, n=5 male), reaching a 7:1 ratio by day 8. By contrast B) control NAc eYFP rats chose equally between options. C) NpHR inhibition of CRF-containing neurons in NAc shell (n=3 female, n=3 male) caused avoidance of Laser+Sucrose and Sucrose-alone preference. D) In a progressive ratio test, NAc ChR2 CRF-containing neuron excitation enhanced incentive motivation breakpoint Laser+Sucrose over Sucrose Alone (n=3 female, n=3 male). ChR2 rats had higher Laser+Sucrose breakpoints than eYFP controls (n=5). Laser did not affect NAc eYFP control breakpoint between progressive ratio test days. NAc NpHR inhibition of CRF-containing neurons reduced Laser+Sucrose breakpoint motivation (n=3 female, n=3 male). Means and SEM reported. *p<0.05,**p<0.01,***p<0.001