Anyone knows that stress causes an elevation of cortisol by activating the HPA-axis. But how is the HPA-axis activated? What is the link between environmental stress and cortisol-release? Is it a disinhibition of CRF-releasing neurons caused by the decrease of GABA-release by the NAC? Less "lust" (stress) means less stimulation of the NAC. Could this be the the missing link?
Have a look at Jones GH, Mittleman G, Robbins TW. Attenuation of amphetamine-stereotypy by mesostriatal dopamine depletion enhances plasma corticosterone: implications for stereotypy as a coping response. Behav Neural Biol. 1989 Jan;51(1):80-91. PubMed PMID: 2705984. We found that Nacc lesions did not have an effect on corticosterone levels, but caudate lesions did. I would interpret this result with some caution as a different stressor might results in different results (all stressors are not equal).
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