東京家政大学研究者情報データベース

オオニシ　ジュンジ onishi junji
大西　淳之

所属東京家政大学栄養学部管理栄養学科
東京家政大学大学院人間生活学総合研究科健康栄養学専攻
東京家政大学大学院人間生活学総合研究科人間生活学専攻
東京家政大学短期大学部短期大学部栄養科
職種教授

論文種別	原著
言語種別	英語
査読の有無	査読あり
表題	Tickling increases dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in adolescent rats.
掲載誌名	正式名：Neuroreport 略　称：Neuroreport ISSNコード：09594965/1473558X
掲載区分	国外
巻・号・頁	24(5),pp.241-245
著者・共著者	◎Hori M, Shimoju R, Tokunaga R, Ohkubo M, Miyabe S, Ohnishi J, Murakami K, Kurosawa M.
発行年月	2013/05
概要	Adolescent rats emit 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, a marker of positive emotion, during rough-and-tumble play or on tickling stimulation. The emission of 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in response to tickling is suggested to be mediated by dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens; however, there is no direct evidence supporting this hypothesis. The present study aimed to elucidate whether play behavior (tickling) in adolescent rats can trigger dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens with hedonic 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations. The effect of tickling stimulation was compared with light-touch stimulation, as a discernible stimulus. We examined 35-40-day-old rats, which corresponds to the period of midadolescence. Tickling stimulation for 5 min significantly increased dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (118±7% of the prestimulus control value). Conversely, light-touch stimulation for 5 min did not significantly change dopamine release. In addition, 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations were emitted during tickling stimulation but not during light-touch stimulation. Further, tickling-induced 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations were significantly blocked by the direct application of SCH23390 (D1 receptor antagonist) and raclopride (D2/D3 receptor antagonist) into the nucleus accumbens. Our study demonstrates that tickling stimulation in adolescent rats increases dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, leading to the generation of 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations.
DOI	doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e32835edbfa.