Insulin actions in the mesolimbic dopamine system
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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Murine Model for Parkinson's Disease: from 6-OH Dopamine Lesion to Behavioral Test
Published on: January 15, 2010
Shuai Liu1, Stephanie L Borgland2
1Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE&STCSM), Shanghai Changning-ECNU Mental Health Center, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China; NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science at NYU Shanghai, 3663 Zhongshan Road North, Shanghai 200062, China.
Abstract:
As a major circulating feeding related hormone, insulin crosses the brain blood barrier and acts on the central nervous system to modulate both homeostatic and non-homeostatic feeding behaviours. The mesolimbic dopamine system is implicated in motivation and the reinforcement of food intake, and it can be delicately tuned in response to insulin. Studies have demonstrated differential effects of insulin in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) compared to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). This review summarizes current findings and discusses possible explanations for the discrepancies of insulin effects on the VTA and NAc in the normal and insulin resistant conditions.
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