Amygdaloid dopamine D₂ receptors play an important role in the modulation of fear/anxiety. Their topographical distribution within the amygdala is however unclear, and their role in unconditioned fear/anxiety remains largely unknown. The aim of this paper was to study the intra-amygdaloid distribution of D₂ receptors and to ascertain their role in unconditioned anxiety. Chemical anatomical studies in the rat, using D₂ and D₃in situ hybridization, quantitative receptor autoradiography with either [³H]raclopride or [¹²⁵I]sulpiride, and D₂-like immunocytochemistry showed that the highest density of dopamine D₂ receptors is present in the central amygdaloid nucleus, particularly within its latero-capsular division, in which a D₂ but not a D₃ mRNA signal was observed. However, although at considerably reduced densities dopamine D₂ receptors were also found in other locations within the amygdala, including the basolateral nucleus. Behaviorally, the infusion of raclopride (0.75–4 μg/side) in the area of the central amygdaloid nucleus resulted at low doses in the appearance of anxiogenic-like effects in the Shock-Probe Burying test, whereas no effects of raclopride treatment were found at any dose in the Elevated Plus-Maze and the Open-Field test. Our results indicate that amygdaloid dopamine D₂-like receptors have a topographically differentiated distribution within the rat amygdala, the major location being in the central amygdaloid nucleus. D₂-like receptors play a role in the modulation of anxiety responses involving a potential differential function of D₂-like receptors in the central amygdaloid nucleus versus the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus.