ΔFosB in the nucleus accumbens regulates food-reinforced instrumental behavior and motivation

Alterations in motivation have been implicated in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse and depression. Repeated exposure to drugs of abuse or stress is known to persistently induce the transcription factor Delta FosB in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and dorsal striatum, effects hypothesized to contribute to neuroadaptations in dopamine-regulated signaling. Little is known, however, about the specific involvement of Delta FosB in dysregulation of appetitively motivated behaviors. We show here that inducible overexpression of Delta FosB in NAc and dorsal striatum of bitransgenic mice, or specifically in the NAc core of rats by use of viral-mediated gene transfer, enhanced food-reinforced instrumental performance and progressive ratio responding. Very similar behavioral effects were found after previous repeated exposure to cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA [(+)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine], or nicotine in rats. These results reveal the powerful regulation of motivational processes by Delta FosB, and provide evidence that drug-induced alterations in gene expression via induction of Delta FosB within the NAc core may play a critical role in the impact of motivational influences on instrumental behavior.