Reciprocal opioid-opioid interactions between the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens regions in mediating mu agonist-induced feeding in rats

Peptides. 2005 Apr;26(4):621-9. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2004.11.007. Epub 2004 Dec 15.

Abstract

Feeding elicited by the mu-selective agonist, [D-Ala2, M-Phe4, Gly-ol5]-encephalin administered into the nucleus accumbens is blocked by accumbal pre-treatment with mu, delta1, delta2 and kappa, but not mu1 opioid antagonists. Correspondingly, mu-agonist-induced feeding elicited from the ventral tegmental area is blocked by ventral tegmental area pre-treatment with mu and kappa, but not delta opioid antagonists. A bi-directional opioid-opioid feeding interaction has been firmly established such that mu-agonist-induced feeding elicited from the ventral tegmental area is blocked by accumbal naltrexone, and that accumbal mu-agonist-induced feeding is blocked by naltrexone pre-treatment in the ventral tegmental area. To determine which opioid receptor subtypes mediate the regional bi-directional opioid-opioid feeding interactions between these two sites, the present study examined the dose-dependent ability of either general (naltrexone), mu (beta-funaltrexamine), kappa (nor-binaltorphamine) or delta (naltrindole) opioid antagonists administered into one site to block mu-agonist-induced feeding elicited from the other site. General, mu and kappa, but not delta opioid receptor antagonist pre-treatment in the ventral tegmental area dose-dependently reduced mu-agonist-induced feeding elicited from the nucleus accumbens. General, mu and delta, and to a lesser degree kappa, opioid receptor antagonist pre-treatment in the nucleus accumbens dose-dependently reduced mu-agonist-induced feeding elicited from the ventral tegmental area. Thus, multiple, but different opioid receptor subtypes are involved in mediating opioid-opioid feeding interactions between the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area regions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / administration & dosage
  • Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / pharmacology*
  • Feeding Behavior / drug effects
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Male
  • Microinjections
  • Nucleus Accumbens / drug effects
  • Nucleus Accumbens / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / agonists*
  • Ventral Tegmental Area / drug effects
  • Ventral Tegmental Area / physiology*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-