Neurotensin in reward processes

• Published in: Neuropharmacology Vol. 167; p. 108005
• Main Authors: Torruella-Suárez, María Luisa, McElligott, Zoe A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Alcohol; Animals; Dopamine; Feeding; Humans; Nerve Net - metabolism; Neurotensin; Neurotensin - metabolism; NTSR1; NTSR2; Reward; Substance use disorder; Ventral Tegmental Area - metabolism; Substance use disorder; Dopamine; Alcohol; Neurotensin; Reward; NTSR1; NTSR2; Feeding
• ISSN: 0028-3908; 1873-7064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108005

Neurotensin (NTS) is a neuropeptide neurotransmitter expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Many studies over the years have revealed a number of roles for this neuropeptide in body temperature regulation, feeding, analgesia, ethanol sensitivity, psychosis, substance use, and pain. This review provides a general survey of the role of neurotensin with a focus on modalities that we believe to be particularly relevant to the study of reward. We focus on NTS signaling in the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, lateral hypothalamus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and central amygdala. Studies on the role of NTS outside of the ventral tegmental area are still in their relative infancy, yet they reveal a complex role for neurotensinergic signaling in reward-related behaviors that merits further study. This article is part of the special issue on ‘Neuropeptides’. •Neurotensin (NTS) is involved in reward signaling beyond the VTA.•NTS signaling impacts neuronal signaling differently across brain regions.•Review of rodent literature with some primate and human highlights.