Involvement of opioid signaling in food preference and motivation: Studies in laboratory animals.
Prog Brain Res
; 229: 159-187, 2016.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27926437
ABSTRACT
Motivation is a complex neurobiological process that initiates, directs, and maintains goal-oriented behavior. Although distinct components of motivated behavior are difficult to investigate, appetitive and consummatory phases of motivation are experimentally separable. Different neurotransmitter systems, particularly the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, have been associated with food motivation. Over the last two decades, however, research focusing on the role of opioid signaling has been particularly growing in this area. Opioid receptors seem to be involved, via neuroanatomically distinct mechanisms, in both appetitive and consummatory aspects of food reward. In the present chapter, we review the pharmacology and functional neuroanatomy of opioid receptors and their endogenous ligands, in the context of food reinforcement. We examine literature aimed at the development of laboratory animal techniques to better understand different components of motivated behavior. We present recent data investigating the effect of opioid receptor antagonists on food preference and effort-related decision making in rats, which indicate that opioid signaling blockade selectively affects intake of relatively preferred foods, resulting in reduced willingness to exert effort to obtain them. Finally, we elaborate on the potential role of opioid system manipulations in disorders associated with excessive eating and obesity.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Transducción de Señal
/
Preferencias Alimentarias
/
Analgésicos Opioides
/
Motivación
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Prog Brain Res
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos