title: The role of the dynorphin/κ opioid receptor system in anxiety.
abstract: Anxiety disorders are the most common and prevalent forms of psychiatric disease, although the biological basis of anxiety is not well understood. The dynorphin/κ opioid receptor system is widely distributed in the central nervous system and has been shown to play a critical role in modulating mood and emotional behaviors. In the present review, we summarize current literature relating to the role played by the dynorphin/κ opioid receptor system in anxiety and κ opioid receptor antagonists as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yu-jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Jing-gen
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D004399:Dynorphins