Kappa-opioid receptors, dynorphin, and cocaine addiction: a positron emission tomography study.

ABSTRACT: Animal studies indicate that the kappa-opioid receptor/dynorphin system plays an important role in cocaine binges and stress-induced relapse. Our goal was to investigate changes in kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) availability in the human brain using positron emission tomography (PET), before and after a cocaine binge. We also investigated the correlation between KOR and stress-induced cocaine self-administration. PET imaging was performed with the KOR selective agonist [¹¹C]GR103545. Subjects with cocaine-use disorder (CUD) underwent PET scans and performed two types of cocaine self-administration sessions in the laboratory as follows: (1) choice sessions following a cold pressor test, to induce stress, and (2) binge dosing of cocaine. This allowed us investigate the following: (1)

SUBMITTER: Martinez D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6785004 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature