Chunk #30 — Discussion and concluding remarks — Role of kappa signaling in drug aversion

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15 years of genetic approaches in vivo for addiction research: Opioid receptor and peptide gene knockout in mouse models of drug abuse.

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The important role of kappa/dynorphin in dysphoric effects of drugs of abuse has been reviewed recently (Shippenberg et al., 2007; Wee and Koob, 2010). The set of data summarized here supports the notion that kappa receptors mainly interact with pDyn-derived peptides to limit drug reward and mediate dysphoric aspects for some drugs (cannabinoids, nicotine). Moreover, and only under stressful conditions, kappa/dynorphin activity increases sensitivity to cocaine reward. The kappa/dynorphin partnership regulating alcohol intake, however, requires further studies.