The mesolimbic system plays a critical role both in modulating pain and mediating the response to opiates. This has been discussed in detail under General Description of the Overall Center. This system of dopaminergic neurons that project from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) has been implicated in the reward mechanism of opiates and is a focal point in the process of addiction (Koob and Le Moal, 2001;Nestler, 2004; Volkow et al., 2004;Nestler, 2005;Spanagel and Heilig, 2005). Moreover, a common attribute of drugs of abuse is the release of dopamine in NAc. Adaptations within this system are believed to be a mechanism of addiction. Alterations within the dopaminergic system also have been found to be associated with pain states in both animal and human imaging studies (Borsook and Becerra, 2006;Schweinhardt et al., 2006). Evidence for the important role of striatal D2DR in modulating pain in humans has been reviewed recently by Hagelberg et al. (Hagelberg et al., 2004). This convergence of brain regions and receptor system that impact upon both modulation of pain and the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse suggests the central hypothesis to be tested by this proposal.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Exploratory Grants (P20)
Project #
5P20DA026002-02
Application #
7874690
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDA1)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$294,961
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02199
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