Separate and combined effects of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor agonists on key pecking in the developing chick.

The separate and combined effects of dopamine D1 and D2 agonists on key-peck responding of young chicks for heat reinforcement were determined. In the first experiment, 1- and 4-day-old chicks (n = 96) were injected SC with either distilled water or 5 mg/kg reserpine 18 h before testing. Twenty minutes before a 24-trial autoshaping session, chicks were injected IP with either distilled water or 10 mg/kg SKF 38393 and 2 mg/kg quinpirole. Chicks receiving both dopamine agonists had enhanced key-peck responding in both pretreatment conditions. In Experiment 2, 1- and 4-day-old chicks (n = 192) of two strains received 5 mg/kg reserpine SC 18 h before testing. Twenty minutes before their autoshaping session these chicks were injected IP with either distilled water, 10 mg/kg SKF 38393, 2 mg/kg quinpirole, or 10 mg/kg SKF 38393 and 2 mg/kg quinpirole. After reserpine pretreatment, chicks of both strains responded on more trials when given both dopamine agonists compared with controls given either distilled water or single agonist treatment. No age or strain differences in key pecking were produced by the combined administration of these dopamine agonists. Therefore, functional coupling of the dopamine D1 and D2 receptors is found within 1 day after hatching in the domestic chick.