TY - JOUR
T1 - Activation of nucleus accumbens μ-opioid receptors enhances the response to a glycaemic challenge
AU - Koekkoek, Laura L.
AU - Kool, Tess
AU - Eggels, Leslie
AU - van der Gun, Luna L.
AU - Lamuadni, Khalid
AU - Slomp, Margo
AU - Diepenbroek, Charlene
AU - Serlie, Mireillle J.
AU - Kalsbeek, Andries
AU - la Fleur, Susanne E.
N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by an AMC PhD fellowship grant awarded by the AMC Executive Board and by the Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research (NWO‐VICI grant 016.160.617). Funding Information: This work was supported by an AMC PhD fellowship grant awarded by the AMC Executive Board and by the Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research (NWO-VICI grant 016.160.617). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Neuroendocrinology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Society for Neuroendocrinology.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Opioids are known to affect blood glucose levels but their exact role in the physiological control of glucose metabolism remains unclear. Although there are numerous studies investigating the peripheral effects of opioid stimulation, little is known about how central opioids control blood glucose and which brain areas are involved. One brain area possibly involved is the nucleus accumbens because, as well as being a key site for opioid effects on food intake, it has also been implicated in the control of blood glucose levels. Within the nucleus accumbens, μ-opioid receptors are most abundantly expressed. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the role of μ-opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens in the control of glucose metabolism. We show that infusion of the μ-opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) in the nucleus accumbens by itself does not affect blood glucose levels, but it enhances the glycaemic response after both an insulin tolerance test, as well as a glucose tolerance test. These findings indicate that the nucleus accumbens plays a role in the central effects of opioids on glucose metabolism, and highlight the possibility of nucleus accumbens μ-opioid receptors as a therapeutic target for enhancing the counter-regulatory response.
AB - Opioids are known to affect blood glucose levels but their exact role in the physiological control of glucose metabolism remains unclear. Although there are numerous studies investigating the peripheral effects of opioid stimulation, little is known about how central opioids control blood glucose and which brain areas are involved. One brain area possibly involved is the nucleus accumbens because, as well as being a key site for opioid effects on food intake, it has also been implicated in the control of blood glucose levels. Within the nucleus accumbens, μ-opioid receptors are most abundantly expressed. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the role of μ-opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens in the control of glucose metabolism. We show that infusion of the μ-opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) in the nucleus accumbens by itself does not affect blood glucose levels, but it enhances the glycaemic response after both an insulin tolerance test, as well as a glucose tolerance test. These findings indicate that the nucleus accumbens plays a role in the central effects of opioids on glucose metabolism, and highlight the possibility of nucleus accumbens μ-opioid receptors as a therapeutic target for enhancing the counter-regulatory response.
KW - DAMGO
KW - glucose metabolism
KW - insulin tolerance test
KW - nucleus accumbens
KW - μ-opioid receptor
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114882918&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.13036
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.13036
M3 - Article
C2 - 34528311
SN - 0953-8194
VL - 33
JO - Journal of neuroendocrinology
JF - Journal of neuroendocrinology
IS - 10
M1 - e13036
ER -