All of the following are ways that opioid agonists can increase dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens except binding to:
A) opioid receptors on dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area.
B) opioid receptors on GABA neurons in the ventral tegmental area.
C) opioid receptors on GABA neurons in the nucleus accumbens.
D) opioid receptors on GABA neurons in the nucleus accumbens that terminate in the ventral tegmental area.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Opioid agonists increase dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens primarily by inhibiting GABAergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which normally inhibit dopamine neurons. By binding to opioid receptors on GABA neurons in the VTA (B), they reduce the inhibitory effect on dopamine neurons, leading to increased dopamine release. Binding to opioid receptors directly on dopamine neurons in the VTA (A) is not a primary mechanism for increasing dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens. Choices C and D describe actions that indirectly affect dopamine release by modulating GABAergic inhibition in relevant areas.

All of the Following Are Ways That Opioid Agonists Can