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Mu opioid receptor expression by nucleus accumbens inhibitory interneurons promotes affiliative social behavior

Carlee Toddes, Emilia M Lefevre, Cassandra L Retzlaff

    Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
    |November 18, 2024
    PubMed

    Insights

    Mu opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens are crucial for motivated behaviors. Deleting these receptors from inhibitory interneurons specifically impacts social behavior, not response to opioids.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Behavioral Neuroscience
    • Molecular Neuroscience

    Background:

    • Mu opioid receptors (MOR) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are key regulators of motivated behaviors.
    • These behaviors encompass the pursuit of natural rewards, such as social interaction, and responses to exogenous opioids.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the specific neuronal populations within the NAc where MOR expression is essential for motivated behaviors.
    • To differentiate the roles of MOR in social behavior versus exogenous opioid sensitivity.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized a combination of genetic and viral strategies for conditional deletion of MOR.
    • Targeted MOR deletion from major neuron types within the NAc.
    • Assessed social behavior and response to exogenous opioids following receptor deletion.

    Main Results:

    • Conditional deletion of MOR from all major NAc neuron types disrupted motivated behaviors.
    • Specifically, MOR expression in inhibitory interneurons was identified as critical for typical social behavior.
    • This role in social behavior was independent of the sensitivity to exogenous opioids.

    Conclusions:

    • Inhibitory interneurons in the NAc are a critical site for MOR function in social behavior.
    • MOR in the NAc plays distinct roles in natural reward seeking (social interaction) and exogenous opioid effects.

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