Neurochemical evidence that cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) 55-102 peptide modulates the dopaminergic reward system by decreasing the dopamine release in the mouse nucleus accumbens.

•New insights into the interactions among CART,dopamine and cocaine in n. accumbens.•CART peptide decreases basal and EFS-evoked extracellular dopamine.•CART peptide increases EFS-evoked and returning basal levels of DOPAC and HVA.•CART exerts a significant decrease in the returning basal level of DOPET.•In the presence of CART, cocaine-induced basal DA is inhibited and DOPAC-increased.