ストレス感受性内因性オピオイド含有神経集団のパラニグラ腹側被蓋野における同定

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), an endogenous opioid neuropeptide, and its G-protein coupled receptor NOPR have been implicated in motivation, feeding behaviors, and aversion. Stress-induced dysfunction in these states is central to the development of numerous psychiatric disorders, and the N/OFQ-NOPR system's role in reward- and stress-related responses has driven broad interest in NOPR as a therapeutic target for anxiety and depression. However, the impact of stress on N/OFQ signaling in the context of its influence on discrete midbrain reward circuitry remains unknown. To this end, we focused on a possible candidate population of N/OFQ neurons in the paranigral ventral tegmental area (pnVTA^PNOC) that have been shown to act locally on NOPR-containing VTA dopamine neurons to suppress motivation. Here we report and characterize pnVTA^PNOC sensitivity during exposure to a diverse range of stressors. Our results indicate that pnVTA^PNOC neurons become recruited during exposure to a variety of acute stressor types, suggesting that this N/OFQ population in the pnVTA could act as a critical bridge between stress and motivation.