Reward olfactory tubercle

O Virtually all abused substances appear to activate the same brain reward pathway. Key components of the reward pathway are the dopamine (DA) mesocorticolimbic system that projects from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NA) to the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, and the olfactory tubercle (Figs. 33-3 and 33-4).5 Animal studies... 

Heimer L, Zahm DS, ChurchUl L, Kalivas PW, Wohltman C (1991) Specificity in the projection patterns of accumbal core and medial shell in the rat. Neuroscience 41 89-125 Hemby SE, No C, Koves TR, Smith JE, Dworkin SI (1997) Differences in extracellular dopamine concentration in the nucleus accumbens during response-dependent and response-independent cocaine administration in the rat. Psychopharmacology 133 7-16 Hildebrand BE, Nomikos GG, Hertel P, Sclrilstrom B, Svensson TH (1998) Reduced dopamine output in the nucleus accumbens but not the prefrontal cortex in rats displaying mecamylamine-precipitated nicotine withdrawal syndrome. Brain Res 779 214-225 Ikemoto S (2003) Involvement of the olfactory tubercle in cocaine reward intracranial selfadministration studies. J Neurosd 23 9305-9311... 

Many of the areas found to be high in delta receptors are part of the limbic system associated with the control of emotion and reward behavior. Such areas include olfactory tubercle, the nucleus accumbens, and the amygdala. However, recent demonstrations have shown that delta agonists may have antidepression activity in the forced swimming test [24 Chap. 20], and the lack of abuse or self-administrative activity in monkeys [25 Chap. 23] may point to the unknown functions of delta receptors in the limbic system. 

Ikemoto S (2003) Involvement of the olfactory tubercle in cocaine reward intracranial self-administration studies. J Neurosci 23(28) 9305-9311. 

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