Using microdialysis we previously reported that prior sucrose licking enhanced accumbens dopamine (DA) turnover in response to feeding (SFN Abst. 26: 2249, 2000). To determine if this effect was related to changes in dopamine transporter (DAT) activity, we used a similar paradigm and measured binding of a specific DAT radioligand ([I125]-RTI155) in different brain regions. Rats that were food and water deprived overnight received 20 min access to 0.3M sucrose at 10 a.m. followed 2h later with food for 20 min (Contingent group, n=12). The controls randomly received either 0.3M sucrose, or food, or no stimulus (Non-contingent group, n=12). On day 7 of training, both groups were subdivided and sacrificed either before or after the 20-min feeding session. In the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), [I125]-RTI55 binding was lower in the Contingent than in the Non-contingent group just before ingestion (-38%, p<0.01). After the ingestion period, DAT binding in the NAcc and in the VTA...