Selective activation of dopamine transmission in the shell of the nucleus accumbens by stress

A microdialysis probe was placed in either the shell or core compartment of the nucleus accumbens and rats were exposed to mild footshock. Extracellular dopamine levels in the shell of the nucleus accumbens were elevated during the 20-min collection period immediately after discontinuing footshock. In contrast, the levels of dopamine remained unaltered in the core of the nucleus accumbens.