Dopaminergic responses in the core part of the nucleus accumbens to subcutaneous MK801 administration are increased following postnatal transient blockade of the prefrontal cortex.

Schizophrenia is a complex and devastating neuropsychiatric disease thought to result from impaired connectivity between several integrative regions, stemming from developmental failures. In particular, the left prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia patients seems to be targeted by such early developmental disturbances. Data obtained over the last three decades support the hypothesis of a dopaminergic dysfunction in schizophrenia.

Neonatal Prefrontal Inactivation Results in Reversed Dopaminergic Responses in the Shell Subregion of the Nucleus Accumbens to NMDA Antagonists.

Striatal dopaminergic dysregulation in schizophrenia could result from a prefronto-striatal dysconnectivity, of neurodevelopmental origin, involving N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The dorsomedian shell part of the nucleus accumbens is a striatal subregion of particular interest inasmuch as it has been described as the common target region for antipsychotics. Moreover, NMDA receptors located on the dopaminergic endings have been reported in the shell.