a. Chemogenetic activation of DA containing neurons in the VTA does not alter sucrose preference in two-bottle choice test. b. CFA induced hyperalgesia is not altered by activation of VTA DA neurons (two-way ANOVA for repeated measures, time: F2, 48 = 148.2, p<0.0001; interaction (time × treatment): F6, 48 = 19.30, p<0.0001; Sidak’s post hoc for each group as compared to the group’s baseline session: **** p<0.0001; n (hM3Dq SAL + CNO) = 7 rats, n (hM3Dq CFA + CNO) = 7 rats, n (hM3Dq CFA + VEH) = 7 rats, n (m-Cherry CFA + CNO) = 6 rats). c. Chemogenetic activation of DA containing neurons in the VTA does not alter water consumption in two-bottle choice test. d. Representative coronal section of VTA DREADD expressing neurons. Blue – DAPI; Red – m-Cherry (Gq DREADD); Green – TH (DA neurons). e. Spread of overlay of individual animal viral expression across VTA in DREADD and control m-Cherry injected TH-cre animals. The data are presented as the mean ± s.e.m.