Abstract: Dopamine (DA) exerts powerful effects on the central regulation of motor and behavioral activities during stressful conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the response of dopaminergic system in Acute Stress (AS) and Chronic Unpredictable Stress (CUS) by measuring dopamine receptor (D1 and D2) gene expression and distribution in the frontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus and amygdala brain regions of rats and also investigated the corresponding changes in the expression of immediate early gene (cfos) in the all selected brain regions. Involvement of D1 receptor in AS and CUS was examined by using A68930 (a D1 selective agonist). Rats were exposed to AS (single immobilization for 150 min) and CUS (two different stressors for 7 days). The results showed that under baseline condition cfos gene was distributed in the brain, with the highest density in the frontal cortex followed by amygdala, striatum and hippocampus. We also found that AS and CUS caused an induction of cfos gene in frontal cortex, striatum and amygdala. Importantly the increased cfos mRNA expression remains up regulated following the treatment of A68930 at 0.25 mg kg-1 dose suggested that neurons in these brain structures are activated. D1 receptor gene was also found to be distributed in the brain, with the highest density in the striatum followed by amygdala, frontal cortex and hippocampus. In case of D2 receptor gene, the highest density was found in the striatum followed by amygdala, hippocampus and frontal cortex. Whereas, D1 receptor gene was found to be elevated in the striatum and hippocampus in both stressed models, but this was normalized by A68930 treatment. On the other hand, D1 receptor mRNA level was reduced in the frontal cortex and amygdala regions in CUS group only. Whereas, the expression D2 receptor remains unchanged in these regions. These changes in gene expression of D1/D2 receptor and cfos, clearly indicating their diverse role in various central nervous system functions operated in particular brain regions.