Chemogenetic manipulation of the ventral pallidum-nucleus accumbens shell pathway modulates sucrose consumption independent of motivation in female rats.

Abstract

Here we investigated the role of the ventral pallidum (VP) to nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) pathway in mediating sucrose consumption and motivation for food in female rats. Using chemogenetic techniques, excitatory and inhibitory designer receptors were expressed in VP neurons projecting to the AcbSh. Behavioral assays assessed both lever pressing under a progressive ratio schedule and free sucrose consumption following activation or inhibition of this pathway. Results showed that inhibition of VP-AcbSh projections increased sucrose intake, while excitation reduced it, without affecting motivation to work for food. These findings indicate a specific influence of the VP-AcbSh pathway on sucrose consumption independent of food-seeking motivation. The study highlights the importance of differentiating VP efferents in understanding distinct roles in feeding behaviors and suggests that the VP-AcbSh pathway modulates consumption based on food type and potentially other variables.