The role of multiple opioid receptors in the potentiation of reward by food restriction

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(94)91738-8

Brain Research

Volume 639, Issue 2, 14 March 1994, Pages 253-260

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(94)91738-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

Chronic food restriction and weight loss were previously shown to produced a naltrexone-reversible facilitation of perifornical lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation. In the present study, high affinity receptor-selective antagonists were used to determine the particular opioid receptor type(s) that mediates the facilitation of reward by food restriction. Separate groups of food-restricted and ad libitum fed rats were used to conduct i.c.v. dose-response studies with TCTAP (μ), norbinaltorphimine (κ), and naltrindole (δ). The highest dose of naltrindole (50.0 nmol) raised self-stimulation threshold independently of feeding condition. This suggests that δ opioid activity is involved in self-stimulation under basal conditions and may explain previous findings that high systemic doses of naloxone or naltrexone reduce self-stimulation. The highest doses of TCTAP and norbinaltorphimine (5.0 and 50.0 nmol, respectively) reversed the lowering of self-stimulation threshold produced by food restriction while having no effect on thresholds of ad libitum fed rats. These results suggest that state-dependent μ and κ opioid activity facilitate reward. Since food restriction is known to increase the rewarding effect of food and drugs of abuse, the opioid mechanism identified in the present study may mediate adaptive behavior and, under some circumstances, pathological behavior. The possible relation of state-dependent opioid activity to Anorexia Nervosa, binge eating, and the high comorbidity of eating disorders and substance abuse is discussed.

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The role of multiple opioid receptors in the potentiation of reward by food restriction

Abstract

Brain Res.

Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.

Brain Res.

Appetite

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Neurosci. Lett.

Physiol. Behav.

Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.

Physiol. Behav.

Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.

Neuropharmacology

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Tetrahedron

Brain Res.

Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.

Trends Neurosci.

Brain Res. Bull.

Brain Res.

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Brain Res.

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Life Sci.

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Brain Res.

Brain Res.