Postdoctoral fellow Angel injects a rat with an opioid. What effect will this have on dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens?
A) This will have no effect.
B) This will decrease the release.
C) This will increase the release.
D) This will decrease or increase release depending on the types of dopamine receptors present.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Opioids increase dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens by inhibiting GABAergic neurons, which normally inhibit dopaminergic neurons. This disinhibition results in increased dopamine release, contributing to the rewarding and reinforcing effects of opioids.

Postdoctoral Fellow Angel Injects a Rat with an Opioid