Regulation of dopamine and dynorphin/KOR function by chronic ethanol and withdrawal in mice and monkeys

Alcoholism is a widespread disorder that is particularly pernicious, given the exceedingly high rates of relapse. It is believed that cycles of chronic relapse are driven largely by states of negative affect (such as depression and anxiety) during withdrawal, which may be caused in part by increased kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) signaling and hypodopaminergia. We have documented numerous contributors to hypodopaminergia in the nucleus accumbens following ethanol withdrawal in both rodents and non-human primates.
Source: Alcohol - Category: Addiction Authors: Source Type: research