Evidence to support the influence of the nucleus accumbens on drug-induced psychopathology

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that the mesolimbic dopamine pathways are involved in the manifestations of psychotic symptoms. Rats were injected with amphetamine (5.0 mg/kg) and apomorphine (1.0 mg/kg) following bilateral lesions of the nucleus accumbens. The results showed high levels of stereotypy following amphetamine administrations in contrast to the low levels seen after the administration of apomorphine. These results, in conjunction with previous experiments involving the globus pallidus, were evaluated in terms of the accumbens' influence on drug-induced psychosis (AU)