SENSITIZATION TO THE BEHAVIORAL-EFFECTS OF COCAINE - MODULATION BY DYNORPHIN AND KAPPA-OPIOID RECEPTOR AGONISTS

Several lines of evidence suggest an involvement of the mesolimbic dop amine (DA) system in the mediation of psychostimulant-induced sensitiz ation. It is also apparent that endogenous opioid peptide systems can modulate the activity of this same DA system. Psychostimulant-induced alterations in opioid peptide gene expression have also been reported. In this review, evidence will be presented that demonstrates that the administration of kappa-opioid agonists can prevent the initiation of behavioral sensitization to cocaine and that such treatment is also e ffective in preventing alterations in mesolimbic DA neurotransmission that occur as a consequence of repeated cocaine administration. The pu tative role of opioid-DA interactions in the modulation of psychostimu lant-induced sensitization will also be discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience Inc.