Strain differences in dopamine receptor function and the initiation of movement

The relationship between voluntary movement initiation (VMI) and caudate nucleus dopamine receptor dynamics was analyzed in two rat strains. Charles River CD/F F-344 (CR-CD/F) and Zivic-Miller CD (ZM-CD) rats (male, 125–150 g) were trained to rapidly release and reset a response lever to avoid electric shock. Whereas 86% of all CR-CD/Fs completed training, only 43% of the ZM-CDs were able to do so. Of those rats completing training, the CR-CD/Fs showed marginally higher avoidance percentage and significantly faster VMI latencies. Physiologically, the more behaviorally-successful CR-CD/Fs showed significantly higher affinity for binding than the trained ZM-CDs and the large group of ZM-CDs which could not be successfully trained. In contrast, the trained ZM-CDs showed significantly higher density of dopamine receptors B max than the ZM-CDs which failed to train and the trained CR-CD/Fs. The behavior-physiology continuum is summarized as follows: CR-CD/F Rats=highest affinity and lowest B max—rapid, highest percentage avoidance; Trained ZM-CD Rats =lowest affinity and highest B max—slower, high percentage avoidance; ZM-CD rats that failed training=intermediate affinity and B max—avoidance failure.