Combination of escitalopram and a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist selectively decreases the extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens relative to striatum through 5-HT2C receptor stimulation; suggestive of antipsychotic potential

►Combined escitalopram and WAY-100635 treatment decrease avoidance response behaviour in rats. ►The combined treatment decrease basal extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. ►No change in extracellular levels of dopamine in the striatum. ►The combined treatment has an antipsychotic-like effect with mesolimbic selectivity. ►Pretreatment with the 5-HT2C receptor, SB242084, prevented these effects.