VOLUNTARY ETHANOL INTAKE INCREASES EXTRACELLULAR ACETYLCHOLINE LEVELS IN THE VENTRAL TEGMENTAL AREA IN THE RAT

Abstract

The present results suggest that voluntary ethanol intake enhances extracellular ventral tegmental acetylcholine that may interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, possibly alpha-conotoxin MII sensitive receptors, localized in the ventral tegmental area that subsequently may stimulate dopamine overflow in the nucleus accumbens.