title: Ventral tegmental site of opiate reward: antagonism by a hydrophilic opiate receptor blocker.
abstract: The ventral tegmental area has been suggested as a possible site of action for the rewarding effect of opiates on the basis of the fact that local morphine injections in this but not other regions are rewarding. That this is a necessary and not just a sufficient site of opiate rewarding action was suggested by the fact that diallyl-normorphinium bromide, a hydrophilic opiate blocker, caused compensatory increases in intravenous heroin self-administration when injected into the ventral tegmental area but not other brain regions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Drug Dependence, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Qué. H3G 1M8, Canada.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Britt
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009269:Nalorphine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology; D012201:Reward; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D009270:Naloxone; C012881:diallylnormorphinium bromide; D009020:Morphine; D009269:Nalorphine