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Article
The rostromedial tegmental nucleus gates fat overconsumption through ventral tegmental area output in male rats
Excessive consumption of palatable foods that are rich in fats and sugars has contributed to the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide. Similar to addictive drugs, such foods activate the brain’s reward c...
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Article
Hippocampal Cannabinoid 1 Receptors Are Modulated Following Cocaine Self-administration in Male Rats
Cocaine addiction is a complex pathology inducing long-term neuroplastic changes that, in turn, contribute to maladaptive behaviors. This behavioral dysregulation is associated with transcriptional reprogramm...
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Article
The endocannabinoid system is modulated in reward and homeostatic brain regions following diet-induced obesity in rats: a cluster analysis approach
Increased availability of high-calorie palatable food in most countries has resulted in overconsumption of these foods, suggesting that excessive eating is driven by pleasure, rather than metabolic need. The b...
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Protocol
Artificial Sweeteners in Animal Models of Binge Eating
Rising rates of obesity in most industrialized countries are a major cause of serious medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and mental health disorders. Binge eating, characterized by excessiv...
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Article
Distinct Mu, Delta, and Kappa Opioid Receptor Mechanisms Underlie Low Sociability and Depressive-Like Behaviors During Heroin Abstinence
Addiction is a chronic disorder involving recurring intoxication, withdrawal, and craving episodes. Esca** this vicious cycle requires maintenance of abstinence for extended periods of time and is a true cha...
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Article
RSK2 Signaling in Medial Habenula Contributes to Acute Morphine Analgesia
It has been established that mu opioid receptors activate the ERK1/2 signaling cascade both in vitro and in vivo. The Ser/Thr kinase RSK2 is a direct downstream effector of ERK1/2 and has a role in cellular signa...
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Article
Effects of delta opioid receptors activation on a response inhibition task in rats
Response inhibition, a primary symptom of many psychiatric disorders, is mediated through a complex neuropharmacological network that involves dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, noradrenaline, and cannabinoid mec...
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Article
Opioid receptor random mutagenesis reveals a mechanism for G protein–coupled receptor activation
The high resolution structure of rhodopsin has greatly enhanced current understanding of G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) structure in the off-state, but the activation process remains to be clarified. We inv...
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Article
Open AccessReplicate high-density rat genome oligonucleotide microarrays reveal hundreds of regulated genes in the dorsal root ganglion after peripheral nerve injury.
Rat oligonucleotide microarrays were used to detect changes in gene expression in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) 3 days following sciatic nerve transection (axotomy). Two comparisons were made using two sets o...
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Article
Mice deficient for δ- and μ-opioid receptors exhibit opposing alterations of emotional responses
The role of the opioid system in controlling pain1, reward and addiction2,3 is well established, but its role in regulating other emotional responses is poorly documented in pharmacology4. The μ-, δ- and κ- opioi...
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Article
[35S]GTPγS binding: A tool to evaluate functional activity of a cloned opioid receptor transiently expressed in COS cells
In this paper we propose a powerful procedure to measure functional activation of the mouse δ-opioid receptor transiently expressed in mammalian cells. Receptor stimulation was assessed using a population of e...
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Article
Loss of morphine-induced analgesia, reward effect and withdrawal symptoms in mice lacking the µ-opioid-receptor gene
DESPITE tremendous efforts in the search for safe, efficacious and non-addictive opioids for pain treatment, morphine remains the most valuable painkiller in contemporary medicine. Opioids exert their pharmaco...
