Rostral-caudal differences in the effects of intra-VTA muscimol on cocaine self-administration.

We have found that dopamine (DA) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) plays an important role in cocaine self-administration. DA in the VTA acts at D1-type receptors on the terminals of GABA afferents causing release of this neurotransmitter. Thus, the neurochemical pathways whereby VTA DA might be involved in cocaine self-administration may include GABA neurotransmission.