Nucleus accumbens lesions modulate the effects of methylphenidate

The psychostimulant methylphenidate (MPD, Ritalin) is the prescribed drug of choice for treatment of ADHD. In recent years, the diagnosis rate of ADHD has increased dramatically, as have the number of MPD prescriptions. Repeated exposure to psychostimulants produces behavioral sensitization in rats, an experimental indicator of a drug's potential liability. In studies on cocaine and amphetamine, this effect has been reported to involve the nucleus accumbens (NAc), one of the nuclei belonging to the motive circuit. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the NAc on the expression of behavioral sensitization as a response to MPD exposure. In the present study, 20 male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups: an intact control group, a sham-operated group, and a NAc bilateral electrical lesion group. Locomotor activity was assessed for the first 2 h following 2.5 mg/kg MPD injection, using open field monitoring systems. Recordings were made during 6 days of continuous MPD administration, and then upon re-challenge with the same dose following 3 days of washout. Acute MPD exposure elicited an increase in locomotor activity in all three groups. However, the NAc lesion group exhibited significantly increased locomotor activity in comparison to sham and control groups. Chronic MPD did not elicit sensitization in the NAc lesion group, while both sham and control groups did exhibit behavioral sensitization to repetitive MPD administration. These findings suggest that the NAc plays a significant role in eliciting locomotor activity as an acute effect of MPD, and in the expression of sensitization due to chronic MPD exposure.