There is a growing body of literature implicating a role for DYN/KOR system activity in the motivational effects of ethanol. This review primarily focuses on evidence demonstrating that acute and chronic ethanol exposure alters DYN/KOR expression and function, and pharmacological manipulation of DYN/KOR activity influences ethanol reward as well as self-administration. As highlighted in this paper, results from this work have often produced conflicting outcomes. No doubt, the discrepant findings may be attributed to differences in numerous experimental parameters. Nevertheless, a few common themes emerge from this literature that point to critical variables that need to be considered in interpreting these findings as well as considerations for future work in this important, clinically relevant area of research.
