Harris G C, Aston-Jones G
Department of Mental Health Sciences, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102.
Nature. 1994 Sep 8;371(6493):155-7. doi: 10.1038/371155a0.
The nucleus accumbens is prominently implicated in the reinforcing effects of abused drugs, and is an important site for mediating aversive stimulus properties of opiate withdrawal. It is generally thought, however, that the role of the accumbens is negligible in the somatic signs of opiate withdrawal. Contrary to this assumption, we now report that D2 dopaminergic receptor activity in the accumbens area potently regulates somatic symptoms of opiate withdrawal. We find that activation of D2 receptors within the accumbens prevents somatic signs of naloxone-induced opiate withdrawal and, conversely, that blockade of accumbal D2 receptors in opiate-dependent animals elicits somatic withdrawal symptoms. These data indicate that dopamine in the accumbens not only is important in the rewarding effects of abused drugs, but also (via D2 receptors) plays a pivotal role in opiate withdrawal.
伏隔核与滥用药物的强化作用密切相关，是介导阿片类药物戒断厌恶刺激特性的重要部位。然而，一般认为伏隔核在阿片类药物戒断的躯体症状中所起的作用微不足道。与这一假设相反，我们现在报告伏隔核区域的D2多巴胺能受体活性有力地调节阿片类药物戒断的躯体症状。我们发现伏隔核内D2受体的激活可预防纳洛酮诱导的阿片类药物戒断的躯体症状，相反，在阿片类药物依赖动物中阻断伏隔核D2受体可引发躯体戒断症状。这些数据表明伏隔核中的多巴胺不仅在滥用药物的奖赏效应中很重要，而且（通过D2受体）在阿片类药物戒断中起关键作用。
