Opioid receptors: distinct roles in mood disorders

Trends Neurosci. 2013 Mar;36(3):195-206. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2012.11.002. Epub 2012 Dec 6.

Abstract

The roles of opioid receptors in pain and addiction have been extensively studied, but their function in mood disorders has received less attention. Accumulating evidence from animal research reveals that mu, delta and kappa opioid receptors (MORs, DORs and KORs, respectively) exert highly distinct controls over mood-related processes. DOR agonists and KOR antagonists have promising antidepressant potential, whereas the risk-benefit ratio of currently available MOR agonists as antidepressants remains difficult to evaluate, in addition to their inherent abuse liability. To date, both human and animal studies have mainly examined MORs in the etiology of depressive disorders, and future studies will address DOR and KOR function in established and emerging neurobiological aspects of depression, including neurogenesis, neurodevelopment, and social behaviors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Affect / drug effects
  • Affect / physiology
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / physiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior / drug effects
  • Maternal Behavior / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Neurological
  • Mood Disorders / drug therapy
  • Mood Disorders / metabolism
  • Mood Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Narcotic Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology
  • Neurogenesis / drug effects
  • Neurogenesis / physiology
  • Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / physiology
  • Opioid Peptides / physiology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Receptors, Opioid / agonists
  • Receptors, Opioid / deficiency
  • Receptors, Opioid / physiology*
  • Reward*
  • Social Behavior
  • Substance-Related Disorders / drug therapy
  • Substance-Related Disorders / physiopathology

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Opioid Peptides
  • Receptors, Opioid