title: The role of ghrelin in drug and natural reward.
abstract: Ghrelin is a protein that has been given special attention in both nutrition and addiction research during the last decade. Consequently, a vast amount of information has been accumulated concerning the role of ghrelin in natural and drug reward. We are now in the position to ask whether the ghrelin system could be targeted to treat maladaptive behaviours such as obesity and drug addiction. Indeed, ghrelin research has demonstrated that blocking the activity of ghrelin receptors may be effective in reducing the consumption of both food and drugs of abuse. This review will give a short overview of our current knowledge about the ghrelin system in the context of drug and natural rewards as well as the possibility of developing potential ghrelin-based treatments.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vengeliene
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000378:metabolism*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D012201:Reward; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin
keywords: Addiction; GHSR antagonist; ghrelin; obesity; reward learning