Interaction between neuropeptide FF and opioids in the ventral tegmental area in the behavioral response to novelty

Considerable evidence has focused on the interaction between endogenous opioid peptides and the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic system in behavioral responses to stress. Recently, it has been proposed that the CNS synthesizes and secretes neuropeptides that act as part of a homeostatic system to attenuate the effects of morphine or endogenous opioid peptides. Among these antiopioids, neuropeptide FF (NPFF) is particularly interesting since both NPFF immunoreactive-like terminals and NPFF binding sites are located in the vicinity of the dopaminergic cell bodies within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) suggesting an interaction at this level. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the respective implication of opioid and antiopioid peptides at the level of the VTA in the locomotor response to novelty in rats. The results indicate that s.c. naloxone pretreatment, an opiate receptor antagonist, reduced locomotor activity in rats placed in a novel environment without having any effect in a familiar environment. This effect takes place in the VTA since intra-VTA administration of naloxone methobromide diminished similarly and dose-dependently the motor response to novelty. This effect is mainly dependent on opioid peptides released at VTA level since local injections of thiorphan, an inhibitor of enkephalin degradation, strongly increased locomotor response to novelty and this effect is completely prevented by the co-administration of naloxone methobromide. When injected in the VTA, NPFF is acting as an antiopioid compound, i.e. it reduces the locomotor activity triggered by exposure to novelty to the level recorded in a familiar environment. Moreover, NPFF decreased dose-dependently the potentiation of novelty-induced locomotor response produced by VTA injection of thiorphan. Taken together, these results suggest that NPFF neurons may participate at the level of the VTA to a homeostatic regulating process counteracting opioid effects induced by a mild stress such as novelty.