Mesolimbic dopamine system cocaine dependence

Cronan T, Conrad J, et al (1985) Effects of chronically administered nicotine and sahne on motor activity in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 22(5) 897-899 Curtis L, Buisson B, et al (2002) Potentiation of human alpha4beta2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor by estradiol. Mol Pharmacol 61(1) 127-135 Dalton JC, Vickers GJ, et al (1986) Increased self-administration of cocaine following haloperidol sex-dependent effects of the antiestrogen tamoxifen. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 25(3) 497-501 Damsma G, Day J, et al (1989) Lack of tolerance to nicotine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Eur J Pharmacol 168(3) 363-368 Di Chiara G, Imperato A (1988) Drugs abused by humans preferentially increase synaptic dopamine concentrations in the mesolimbic system of freely moving rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85(14) 5274-5278... 

The reinforcing (i.e. dependence-producing) effects of cocaine are thought to result from its ability to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine and thereby to increase dopaminergic activity, particularly in the ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens, so enhancing the activity of the dopaminergic system in the mesolimbic area (the reward area) of the brain. 

---