Involvement of cholinergic neuronal systems in intravenous cocaine self-administration.

Recent studies suggest the participation of cholinergic neurons in the brain processes underlying reinforcement. The involvement of cholinergic neurons in cocaine self-administration has been recently demonstrated in studies using muscarinic and nicotinic agonists and antagonists, microdialysis, assessment of choline acetyltransferase activity and acetylcholine (ACh) turnover rates. The present experiment was initiated to identify subsets of cholinergic neurons involved in the brain processes that underlie cocaine self-administration by lesioning discrete populations with a selective neurotoxin.