Reward and abuse of opiates.
The dependence creating properties of drugs are mediated by structures in the brain. The mesolimbic system seems to play a crucial role in the behaviourally reinforcing effects of opiates and other drugs of abuse. The significance of dopamine in opiate reinforcement is still a matter of debate, in spite of the large number of studies on this subject. Dopamine appears to be involved in conditioning processes and in drug self-administration behaviour only once it has been established. Neuropeptides, centrally active fragments of hormones, may play a role in the individual vulnerability for the development of drug dependence. Administration of a number of wellknown neuropeptides attenuates the acquisition of drug self-administration behaviour. The virtues and flaws of some widely used animal models for drug dependence are discussed.
Ramsey
N F
NF
Department of Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute, Medical Faculty, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Van Ree
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009294:Narcotics; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward; D012646:Self Administration; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*
D009294:Narcotics; D004298:Dopamine