In the sham-operated rats, exposure to either footshock or psychological stress induced similar biphasic alterations of dopamine (DA) release (an initial increase followed by a decrease below baseline levels) in the amygdala 4 weeks after the surgery. On the other hand, the left entorhinal cortex lesions abolished the late decrement phase of DA release below baseline levels. These results suggest that entorhinal cortex lesions modulate stress-induced dopaminergic transmissions in the lateral amygdala.