Opioids mediate their effects via opioid receptors: mu, delta, and kappa. At the neuronal
level, opioid receptors are generally inhibitory, presynaptically reducing neurotransmitter …

Opioids are the most potent analgesics in clinical use; however, their powerful rewarding
properties can lead to addiction. The scientific challenge is to retain analgesic potency while …

The opioid system consists of three receptors, mu, delta, and kappa, which are activated by
endogenous opioid peptides processed from three protein precursors, proopiomelanocortin …

Substance use disorders (SUDs), defined as a collection of symptoms including tolerance
and withdrawal, are chronic illnesses characterized by relapse and remission. In the United …

In the mid-1970s, an intense race to identify endogenous substances that activated the
same receptors as opiates resulted in the identification of the first endogenous opioid …

The midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) projection to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is
implicated in motivation and reinforcement. A significant number of NAc medium spiny …

This paper is the 28th consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning
the endogenous opioid system, now spanning over a quarter-century of research. It …

The canonical two neuron model of opioid reward posits that mu opioid receptor (MOR)
activation produces reward by disinhibiting midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine …

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) contributes to reward and motivation signaling. In addition
to the well established populations of dopamine (DA) or GABA VTA neurons, glutamatergic …

The mesocorticolimbic system, consisting, at its core, of the ventral tegmental area, the
nucleus accumbens, and medial prefrontal cortex, has historically been investigated …