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      Feeding Releases Endogenous Opioids in Humans

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          Abstract

          <p class="first" id="d10090906e260">The endogenous opioid system supports a multitude of functions related to appetitive behavior in humans and animals, and it has been proposed to govern hedonic aspects of feeding thus contributing to the development of obesity. Here we used positron emission tomography to investigate whether feeding results in hedonia-dependent endogenous opioid release in humans. Ten healthy males were recruited for the study. They were scanned with the μ-opioid-specific ligand [ <sup>11</sup>C]carfentanil three times, as follows: after a palatable meal, a nonpalatable meal, and after an overnight fast. Subjective mood, satiety, and circulating hormone levels were measured. Feeding induced significant endogenous opioid release throughout the brain. This response was more pronounced following a nonpalatable meal versus a palatable meal, and independent of the subjective hedonic responses to feeding. We conclude that feeding consistently triggers cerebral opioid release even in the absence of subjective pleasure associated with feeding, suggesting that metabolic and homeostatic rather than exclusively hedonic responses play a role in the feeding-triggered cerebral opioid release. </p><p id="d10090906e265"> <b>SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT</b> The endogenous opioid system supports both hedonic and homeostatic functions. It has been proposed that overeating and concomitant opioid release could downregulate opioid receptors and promote the development of obesity. However, it remains unresolved whether feeding leads to endogenous opioid release in humans. We used <i>in vivo</i> positron emission tomography to test whether feeding triggers cerebral opioid release and whether this response is associated with pleasurable sensations. We scanned volunteers using the μ-opioid receptor-specific radioligand [ <sup>11</sup>C]carfentanil three times, as follows: after an overnight fast, after consuming a palatable meal, and after consuming a nonpalatable meal. Feeding led to significant endogenous opioid release, and this occurred also in the absence of feeding-triggered hedonia. Feeding-triggered opioid release thus also reflects metabolic and homeostatic responses rather than hedonic responses exclusively. </p>

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          The Journal of Neuroscience
          J. Neurosci.
          Society for Neuroscience
          0270-6474
          1529-2401
          August 23 2017
          August 23 2017
          : 37
          : 34
          : 8284-8291
          Article
          10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0976-17.2017
          6596790
          28747384
          9709bc90-a8c3-4da6-828c-76ed612d1f1f
          © 2017
          History

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