There is evidence that cocaine can induce behavioral and neurochemical sensitization in dopaminergic (DA) and glutamate (Glu) mecosorticolímbics systems. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the involvement of AMPA receptors in the cross-sensitization between stress-cocaine and to investigate the interaction of nucleus accumben0 cores. Male Wistar rats (250-350 g) were immobilized for two hours (acute stress). Control animals were left in their boxes. Twenty days after treatment, animals were assigned to three experiments: I) Locomotor activity: in response to cocaine (10 or 15 mg / kg ip) recorded for two hours. II) Microdialysis: dopamine levels determined by HPLC in NAc core or NAc shell were evaluated in response to cocaine 15mg/kg i.p. III) Microinjections of AMPA agonists and antagonists drugs receptors in NAc core or DMSO (vehicle) for the expression of behavioral sensitization to cocaine. These results suggest the involvement of a component mediated by AMPA receptor stimulation in the expression of long-term sensitization to cocaine-induced acute stress, and interaction with dopamine in the nucleus accumbens core, underlying the phenomenon of cross-sensitization stress-cocaine.