Distinct Subpopulations of Nucleus Accumbens Dynorphin Neurons Drive Aversion and Reward.

ABSTRACT: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the dynorphinergic system are widely implicated in motivated behaviors. Prior studies have shown that activation of the dynorphin-kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system leads to aversive, dysphoria-like behavior. However, the endogenous sources of dynorphin in these circuits remain unknown. We investigated whether dynorphinergic neuronal firing in the NAc is sufficient to induce aversive behaviors. We found that photostimulation of dynorphinergic cells in the ventral NAc shell elicits robust conditioned and real-time aversive behavior via KOR activation, and in contrast, photostimulation of dorsal NAc shell dynorphin cells induced a KOR-mediated place preference and was positively reinforcing. These results show previously unknown discrete subregions of dynorphi

SUBMITTER: Al-Hasani R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4625385 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature