Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 density increases without changing D₂ receptors in the striatum body of the rat following a high-sucrose diet.

Abstract

High-sucrose diet (HSD) has been related to cognitive impairments and caloric imbalance. A common link among them all is the dopamine (DA) system. However, the impact of HSD on vesicular monoamine transporter 2 and dopamine D₂ receptor is controversial. This work aimed to investigate whether sucrose and caloric intake impact vesicular monoamine transporter 2 and D₂ receptor density in rats under HSD at 20 or 40 weeks of treatment. Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 density increases in the HSD-20 weeks group without altering sucrose and caloric consumption, while D₂ receptor density remains unchanged. These results support underlying changes in the DA system, particularly in the striatum body, induced by HSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).