Kappa-opioid receptor signaling in the striatum as a potential modulator of dopamine transmission in cocaine dependence

1. Front Psychiatry. 2013 Jun 3;4:44. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00044. eCollection
2013.

Kappa-opioid receptor signaling in the striatum as a potential modulator of
dopamine transmission in cocaine dependence.

Trifilieff P(1), Martinez D.

Author information:
(1)New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University , New York, NY ,
USA ; NutriNeuro, UMR 1286 INRA, University Bordeaux 2 , Bordeaux , France.

Cocaine addiction is accompanied by a decrease in striatal dopamine signaling,
measured as a decrease in dopamine D2 receptor binding as well as blunted
dopamine release in the striatum. These alterations in dopamine transmission
have clinical relevance, and have been shown to correlate with cocaine-seeking
behavior and response to treatment for cocaine dependence. However, the
mechanisms contributing to the hypodopaminergic state in cocaine addiction
remain unknown. Here we review the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging
studies showing alterations in D2 receptor binding potential and dopamine
transmission in cocaine abusers and their significance in cocaine-seeking
behavior. Based on animal and human studies, we propose that the kappa
receptor/dynorphin system, because of its impact on dopamine transmission and
upregulation following cocaine exposure, could contribute to the
hypodopaminergic state reported in cocaine addiction, and could thus be a
relevant target for treatment development.

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00044
PMCID: PMC3669800
PMID: 23760592

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus