Premium
A novel δ opioid receptor‐mediated enhancement of GABA A receptor function induced by stress in ventral tegmental area neurons
Author(s) -
Margolis Elyssa B.,
Mitchell Jennifer M.,
Hjelmstad Gregory O.,
Fields Howard L.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.209023
Subject(s) - ventral tegmental area , opioid , receptor , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , opioid receptor , opiate , chemistry , dopamine , pharmacology , morphine , midbrain , biology , dopaminergic , central nervous system , biochemistry
Non‐technical summary Drugs of the opiate class produce analgesia and are addicting. These drugs act at molecular targets called opioid receptors and modify the connections between nerve cells. In this paper we show that stress alters the function of one of these receptors, the δ opioid receptor. Opioid receptors typically decrease neural signaling; however, following stress, δ opioid receptor activation increases neural signalling. This enhancement of signalling was observed at inhibitory synapses on midbrain dopamine neurons. These neurons, and the control of their inhibitory inputs by opiates, have been implicated in the addicting power of opiate drugs such as morphine.