Abstract
This mini-review outlines the opioid systems and their roles primarily as related to reward and compulsive drug/alcohol intake. The central role is taken by the mu-opioid receptor, target for opiate analgesics and also a central target in compulsive alcohol abuse, alcoholism. The mu-opioid receptor and the cognate opioid neuropeptides from proenkephalin and proopiomelancortin are members of a superfamily of opioid systems, each with unique and still to be defined roles in the central nervous system.
2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.
MeSH terms
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Allostasis
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Analgesics, Opioid / metabolism*
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Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
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Animals
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Behavior, Addictive / metabolism*
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Behavior, Addictive / psychology
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Conditioning, Classical / drug effects
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Enkephalins / metabolism
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Humans
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Mice
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Opioid Peptides / metabolism*
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Opioid Peptides / pharmacology
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Opioid-Related Disorders / metabolism*
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Opioid-Related Disorders / psychology
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Pro-Opiomelanocortin / metabolism
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Protein Precursors / metabolism
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Rats
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Receptors, Opioid, mu / metabolism*
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Reward
Substances
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Analgesics, Opioid
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Enkephalins
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Opioid Peptides
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Protein Precursors
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Receptors, Opioid, mu
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proenkephalin
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Pro-Opiomelanocortin