Lesion of medial prefrontal cortex reduces morphine-induced extracellular dopamine level in the ventral tegmental area: A microdialysis study in rats

Drug addiction is a chronic disorder characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior despite severe negative consequences. Most abused drugs increase dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and in the nucleus accumbens (NA). The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a part of the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system, receives dopaminergic projections from VTA; and in turn, sends glutamatergic projections to both VTA and NA. The present study was designed to further investigate the involvement of the mPFC in the release of dopamine in the VTA by using in vivo microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC–ECD). Electrical lesion of the mPFC decreased the level of dopamine in the VTA to approximately 26.8% of basal level. Acute morphine (40mg/kg i.p.) treatment increased the level of dopamine in the VTA, while the lesion of mPFC immediately before morphine administration attenuated the effects of acute morphine on the level of dopamine. These results suggest that the mPFC modulates dopamine release into the VTA. ► Acute treatment with morphine increased the extracellular levels of dopamine into the VTA. ► The lesion of mPFC before morphine administration attenuated the effects of morphine on the level of dopamine into the VTA. ► The mPFC exert a modulator effect on mesocorticolimbic rewarding system.