Abstract
There is significant experimental evidence implicating the endogenous opioid system (opioid peptides and opioid receptors) with the processes of reward and reinforcement. Indeed, many behaviors associated with reward and reinforcement, for example feeding behavior, are controlled by distinct components of the endogenous opioid system located in relevant brain regions. It has also been shown that regardless of their initial site of action many drugs of abuse, such as morphine, nicotine, cocaine, alcohol and amphetamines, induce an increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. This increased secretion of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens seems to be a common effect of many drugs of abuse, and it was proposed that may mediate their rewarding and reinforcing properties. Furthermore, activation of μ opioid receptors in the ventral tegmental area, or of μ and δ opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens enhances the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. Thus, stimulation of the activity of distinct components of the endogenous opioid system either by opioid or by other drugs of abuse, may mediate some of their reinforcing effects. In this review article, a brief description of the endogenous opioid system and its implication in the processes of reward and reinforcement of opioid and other drugs of abuse will be presented. Furthermore, the use of opioid antagonists in the treatment of drug addiction will be discussed. Special emphasis will be given to ethanol addiction, the drug mainly studied in my laboratory.
Keywords: Endogenous Opioids, nucleus accumbens, opioid antagonists, amphetamines
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Endogenous Opioids and Addiction to Alcohol and other Drugs of Abuse
Volume: 4 Issue: 1
Author(s): Christina Gianoulakis
Affiliation:
Keywords: Endogenous Opioids, nucleus accumbens, opioid antagonists, amphetamines
Abstract: There is significant experimental evidence implicating the endogenous opioid system (opioid peptides and opioid receptors) with the processes of reward and reinforcement. Indeed, many behaviors associated with reward and reinforcement, for example feeding behavior, are controlled by distinct components of the endogenous opioid system located in relevant brain regions. It has also been shown that regardless of their initial site of action many drugs of abuse, such as morphine, nicotine, cocaine, alcohol and amphetamines, induce an increase in the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. This increased secretion of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens seems to be a common effect of many drugs of abuse, and it was proposed that may mediate their rewarding and reinforcing properties. Furthermore, activation of μ opioid receptors in the ventral tegmental area, or of μ and δ opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens enhances the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. Thus, stimulation of the activity of distinct components of the endogenous opioid system either by opioid or by other drugs of abuse, may mediate some of their reinforcing effects. In this review article, a brief description of the endogenous opioid system and its implication in the processes of reward and reinforcement of opioid and other drugs of abuse will be presented. Furthermore, the use of opioid antagonists in the treatment of drug addiction will be discussed. Special emphasis will be given to ethanol addiction, the drug mainly studied in my laboratory.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Gianoulakis Christina, Endogenous Opioids and Addiction to Alcohol and other Drugs of Abuse, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2004; 4 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026043451573
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026043451573 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Chemistry Based on Natural Products for Therapeutic Purposes
The development of new pharmaceuticals for a wide range of medical conditions has long relied on the identification of promising natural products (NPs). There are over sixty percent of cancer, infectious illness, and CNS disease medications that include an NP pharmacophore, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Since NP ...read more
Current Trends in Drug Discovery Based on Artificial Intelligence and Computer-Aided Drug Design
Drug development discovery has faced several challenges over the years. In fact, the evolution of classical approaches to modern methods using computational methods, or Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD), has shown promising and essential results in any drug discovery campaign. Among these methods, molecular docking is one of the most notable ...read more
Drug Discovery in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), we have witnessed a significant boom in AI techniques for drug discovery. AI techniques are increasingly integrated and accelerating the drug discovery process. These developments have not only attracted the attention of academia and industry but also raised important questions regarding the selection ...read more
From Biodiversity to Chemical Diversity: Focus of Flavonoids
Flavonoids are the largest group of polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites arising from the essential aromatic amino acid phenylalanine (or more rarely from tyrosine) via the phenylpropanoid pathway. The flavan nucleus is the basic 15-carbon skeleton of flavonoids (C6-C3-C6), which consists of two phenyl rings (A and B) and a heterocyclic ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Curcumin and Endothelial Function: Evidence and Mechanisms of Protective Effects
Current Pharmaceutical Design Utilization of Proven Therapies for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) in Patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Neuroprotective Properties of Erythropoietin in Cerebral Ischemia
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Moving to the Rhythm with Clock (Circadian) Genes, Autophagy, mTOR, and SIRT1 in Degenerative Disease and Cancer
Current Neurovascular Research A Role for Calcineurin in Alzheimers Disease
Current Neuropharmacology Platelets in the Alzheimer’s Disease Brain: do they Play a Role in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy?
Current Neurovascular Research Physical and Mechanical Therapies for Lower Limb Problems in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Systematic Review (Protocol)
Applied Clinical Research, Clinical Trials and Regulatory Affairs Dopamine Neurotransmission and Atypical Antipsychotics in Prefrontal Cortex: A Critical Review
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Role of Grina/Nmdara1 in the Central Nervous System Diseases
Current Neuropharmacology Parkinson´s and Alzheimer´s Diseases and Natural Products: Pathologies and Medication of the New Times
Current Neuropharmacology Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Current Alzheimer Research Relevance of Sphingolipids in the Pleiotropic Protective Effects of High-Density Lipoproteins
Current Pharmaceutical Design Meet Our Editorial Board Member
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Advances on Semisynthesis, Total Synthesis, and Structure-Activity Relationships of Honokiol and Magnolol Derivatives
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Meet Our Managing Editor:
Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering (Discontinued) mGlu5 Receptors: Neuroanatomy, Pharmacology, and Role in Drug Addiction
Current Psychiatry Reviews Degradation Products of Amyloid Protein: Are They The Culprits?
Current Alzheimer Research Dantrolene : From Malignant Hyperthermia to Alzheimer’s Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Pathophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Excess Risk for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in South Asians: The Perfect Storm
Current Diabetes Reviews Study on Gluco-Regulatory Potential of Glimepiride Sulfonamide Using In silico, In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches
Current Pharmaceutical Design