Dopamine Drives Feedforward Inhibition to Orexin Feeding System, Mediating Weight Loss Induced by Morphine Addiction

Abstract Feeding behavior changes induced by opioid addiction significantly contribute to the worsening opioid crisis. Activation of the reward system has shown to provoke binge eating disorder in individuals with opioid use disorder, whereas prolonged opioid exposure leads to weight loss. Understan...

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Main Authors: Huiming Li, Sa Wang, Dan Wang, Jiannan Li, Ge Song, Yongxin Guo, Lu Yin, Tingting Tong, Haopeng Zhang, Hailong Dong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202411858
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author Huiming Li
Sa Wang
Dan Wang
Jiannan Li
Ge Song
Yongxin Guo
Lu Yin
Tingting Tong
Haopeng Zhang
Hailong Dong
author_facet Huiming Li
Sa Wang
Dan Wang
Jiannan Li
Ge Song
Yongxin Guo
Lu Yin
Tingting Tong
Haopeng Zhang
Hailong Dong
author_sort Huiming Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Feeding behavior changes induced by opioid addiction significantly contribute to the worsening opioid crisis. Activation of the reward system has shown to provoke binge eating disorder in individuals with opioid use disorder, whereas prolonged opioid exposure leads to weight loss. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these phenomena is essential for addressing this pressing societal issue. This study demonstrates that weight loss resulting from feeding behavior changes during morphine addiction requires the activation of the ventral tegmental area dopamine (DA) system, which suppresses the orexin feeding center. Specifically, DA exerts an inhibitory effect on orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus area (LHA) through a feedforward inhibition mediated by GABA neurons in the LHA, involving D1 receptors (D1R) and T‐type Ca2+ channels. Moreover, the morphine addiction‐induced reduction in body weight and food intake can be reversed by the D1R antagonist SCH23390 and chemogenetic silencing of GABA neurons in the LHA. These findings delineate a neuromodulatory mechanism underlying morphine addiction‐associated feeding behavior changes and weight loss.
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issn 2198-3844
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Wiley
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spelling doaj-art-0fb97d8441b64c8ba2bf448dc221677c2025-08-20T03:10:53ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-03-011210n/an/a10.1002/advs.202411858Dopamine Drives Feedforward Inhibition to Orexin Feeding System, Mediating Weight Loss Induced by Morphine AddictionHuiming Li0Sa Wang1Dan Wang2Jiannan Li3Ge Song4Yongxin Guo5Lu Yin6Tingting Tong7Haopeng Zhang8Hailong Dong9Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Xijing Hospital The Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032 ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Xijing Hospital The Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032 ChinaKey Laboratory of Anesthesiology (The Fourth Military Medical University) Ministry of Education of China Xi'an 710032 ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Xijing Hospital The Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032 ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Xijing Hospital The Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032 ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Xijing Hospital The Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032 ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Xijing Hospital The Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032 ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Xijing Hospital The Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032 ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Xijing Hospital The Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032 ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Xijing Hospital The Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032 ChinaAbstract Feeding behavior changes induced by opioid addiction significantly contribute to the worsening opioid crisis. Activation of the reward system has shown to provoke binge eating disorder in individuals with opioid use disorder, whereas prolonged opioid exposure leads to weight loss. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these phenomena is essential for addressing this pressing societal issue. This study demonstrates that weight loss resulting from feeding behavior changes during morphine addiction requires the activation of the ventral tegmental area dopamine (DA) system, which suppresses the orexin feeding center. Specifically, DA exerts an inhibitory effect on orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus area (LHA) through a feedforward inhibition mediated by GABA neurons in the LHA, involving D1 receptors (D1R) and T‐type Ca2+ channels. Moreover, the morphine addiction‐induced reduction in body weight and food intake can be reversed by the D1R antagonist SCH23390 and chemogenetic silencing of GABA neurons in the LHA. These findings delineate a neuromodulatory mechanism underlying morphine addiction‐associated feeding behavior changes and weight loss.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202411858body weightdopaminefeedforward inhibitionfeeding behaviorsmorphine addictionneural circuits
spellingShingle Huiming Li
Sa Wang
Dan Wang
Jiannan Li
Ge Song
Yongxin Guo
Lu Yin
Tingting Tong
Haopeng Zhang
Hailong Dong
Dopamine Drives Feedforward Inhibition to Orexin Feeding System, Mediating Weight Loss Induced by Morphine Addiction
Advanced Science
body weight
dopamine
feedforward inhibition
feeding behaviors
morphine addiction
neural circuits
title Dopamine Drives Feedforward Inhibition to Orexin Feeding System, Mediating Weight Loss Induced by Morphine Addiction
title_full Dopamine Drives Feedforward Inhibition to Orexin Feeding System, Mediating Weight Loss Induced by Morphine Addiction
title_fullStr Dopamine Drives Feedforward Inhibition to Orexin Feeding System, Mediating Weight Loss Induced by Morphine Addiction
title_full_unstemmed Dopamine Drives Feedforward Inhibition to Orexin Feeding System, Mediating Weight Loss Induced by Morphine Addiction
title_short Dopamine Drives Feedforward Inhibition to Orexin Feeding System, Mediating Weight Loss Induced by Morphine Addiction
title_sort dopamine drives feedforward inhibition to orexin feeding system mediating weight loss induced by morphine addiction
topic body weight
dopamine
feedforward inhibition
feeding behaviors
morphine addiction
neural circuits
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202411858
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