Ethanol changes the electroencephalographic correlation of the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens, components of the mesoaccumbens system in rats.

Alcohol consumption produces various behavioral effects and its administration is associated with increases of dopamine (DA) levels in the nucleus accumbens (Acc). However, it is not yet clear if these behavioral and neurochemical effects are associated with a different functionality of the Acc and ventral tegmental area (VTA), the neural structures that constitute the dopaminergic mesoaccumbens system. The present study was designed to analyze whether the electroencephalographic (EEG) correlation between the Acc and VTA shows characteristic changes after the forced administration of ethanol in male rats.

Electrophysiological correlates of the mesoaccumbens system during male rat sexual behaviour.

It is well known that during the male rat sexual interaction different levels of arousal or sexual motivation are involved and that these motivational changes are associated with variations in the level of dopamine (DA); however, it is not yet known if these changes are associated with a different functionality of the nucleus Accumbens (Acc) and Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), neural structures that constitute the DA mesoaccumbens system. Thus, in this study was simultaneously recorded the electroencephalogram (EEG) from the VTA and the Acc in order to determine if the EEG correlation (r) between these structures shows characteristic patterns in relation to four different conditions of sexual arousal during the male rat sexual interaction: 1) basal-quiet state (BS); 2) exposure to an inaccessible oestrous female (IF); 3) post-intromission (PI); and, 4) post-ejaculation (PE). Both Acc and VTA showed an increased relative power (RP) in the 8-12 Hz band during the PI condition as compared to the other periods.