Involvement of dopaminergic mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens core and shell subregions in the expression of fear conditioning

MARTINEZ, R.C.; OLIVEIRA, A.R.; MACEDO, C.E.; MOLINA, V.A. AND M.L. BRANDAO

Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland

Año: 2008 vol. 446 p. 112 - 112

font face="OneGulliverA" size="1"> The involvement of dopamine (DA) mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) in fear conditioning has been proposed by many studies that have challenged the view that the NAC is solely involved in the modulation of appetitive processes. However, the role of the core and shell subregions of the NAC in aversive conditioning remains unclear. The present study examined DA release in these NAC subregions using microdialysis during the expression of fear memory. Guide cannulae were implanted in rats in the NAC core and shell. Five days later, the animals received 10 footshocks (0.6mA, 1 s duration) in a distinctive cage A (same context). On the next day, dialysis probeswere inserted through the guide cannulae into the NAC core and shell subregions, and the animals were behaviorally tested for fear