Figure 2

Glucocorticoid signaling in VTA increases the rewarding value of a HFD under caloric restriction stress. (A–D) The amount of HFD consumed during CPP conditioning session. There were no differences between WT and D-KO (A: male n = 9–13, B: female n = 7–10 for each group), or CS-KO (C: male n = 8–14, D: female n = 8–14 for each group). (E–H) Body weight change during the CPP conditioning session. There were no differences between WT and D-KO (E: male n = 9–13, F: female n = 7–10 for each group), or CS-KO mice (G: male n = 8–14, H: female n = 8–14 for each group). (I–L) Results of the CPP test under caloric restriction stress. WT mice exhibited a significant preference for the HFD-paired compartment, while D-KO mice exhibited no preference for the HFD-paired compartment, in both males and females (I: male n = 9–13, J: female n = 7–10 for each group). Both WT and CS-KO mice exhibited a significant preference for the HFD-paired compartment, with no difference between genotypes (K: male n = 8–14, L: female n = 8–14 for each group). All values are mean ± SEM. Statistical analyses were performed using unpaired t test (A–H) or two-way factorial ANOVA (I–L) followed by Bonferroni post hoc test. Asterisks denote significant group differences at p < 0.05 for (I–L).