Differential effect of cocaine on extracellular dopamine levels in rat medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens: comparison to amphetamine

The technique of in vivo microdialysis was used to measure the extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens septi and medial prefrontal cortex of chloral-hydrate-anaesthetized rats following systemic administration of cocaine and amphetamine. Intravenous injection of cocaine increased the extracellular levels of dopamine in the medial prefrontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens septi in a dose-dependent manner. However, the magnitude of increase was significantly greater in nucleus accumbens than in medial prefrontal cortex. In comparison to cocaine, amphetamine increased the extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex to the same degree. Based on the relatively small increase of extracellular dopamine levels in medial prefrontal cortex by cocaine, it is postulated that dopaminergic innervation of other structures besides medial prefrontal cortex may be involved in maintenance of cocaine self-administration.