Increased sensitivity to amphetamine and facilitation of amphetamine self-administration after 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the amygdala.

The effects of 6-OHDA lesions of dopamine terminals within the amygdala were investigated on i) (+) amphetamine-induced locomotor hyperactivity and ii) the acquisition of intravenous self-administration of (+) amphetamine. The lesioned rats exhibited increased locomotor activity in response to (+) amphetamine (0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg), but not at the higher dose (3 mg/kg). Self-administration of (+) amphetamine was also significantly greater than in controls. Biochemical analysis of the 6-OHDA-induced lesions of the amygdala indicated increased turnover of dopamine (DOPAC/DA) in the nucleus accumbens. We hypothesize that the behavioural effects were mediated by amygdala-accumbens interactions.