The Role of Endogenous Opioid System in Food Addiction

Dear Colleagues,

Endogenous opioids have been implicated in feeding, but the role of each opioid peptide and receptor is less clear in this regard. In particular, the role of the endogenous opioid system in the hedonic aspect of feeding and food addiction is not fully characterized. This Special Issue aims to publish breakthrough findings encompassing the role of the endogenous opioid system in the homeostatic and hedonic aspects of feeding, as well as in glucose and energy homeostasis, how palatable foods affect the level of opioid peptides and their receptors, the role of neuroanatomical site(s) of regulatory actions of opioids in the brain in the homeostatic and hedonic aspects of feeding, and where, in brain regions, palatable foods alter the levels of opioid peptides and their receptors.

We welcome research papers and review articles addressing the following themes:

• Determining the role of endogenous opioid peptide(s) or opioid receptor(s) in the hedonic aspect of feeding.
• Assessing the role of different brain regions or brain circuits in the regulatory actions of opioids in the hedonic aspects of feeding using pharmacological, chemogenetic, or optogenetic approaches.
• Describing the role of the endogenous opioid system in sex-related differences in the hedonic aspect of feeding.
• Investigating the impact of palatable foods on the endogenous opioid system in the central nervous system, i.e., whether there are changes in the levels of opioid peptides and opioid receptors following short-term or long-term palatable food administration.
• The role of the endogenous opioid system in the withdrawal from palatable foods and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anhedonia, depression, and anxiety.

Prof. Dr. Kabirullah Lutfy
Prof. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman
Guest Editors

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