Local control of dopamine release in nucleus accumbens gates opioid withdrawal aversion

Abstract The opioid crisis has emphasized the need for more effective treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) 1–3 , which is characterized by habitual opioid use to avoid withdrawal symptoms 4,5 . Both physical and affective symptoms contribute to opioid withdrawal yet whether different neural mechanisms mediate these different symptom domains and contribute distinctly to opioid relapse is unknown. While neurons expressing mu opioid receptors (MORs) gate opioids’ reinforcing effects 6–8 by increasing dopamine (DA) release in nucleus accumbens (NAc), sharp decreases in NAc DA release are associated with withdrawal 9–11 , the cellular and circuit mechanisms of which are unknown. Here we describe an unusual population of evolutionarily-conserved MOR+ neurons in the NAc expressing the transcription factor Tshz1 . Increased activity in these neurons is required for withdrawal aversion learning. Deletion of MORs in Tshz1 neurons prevented withdrawal-induced decreases in DA release and affective aversion, but not physical symptoms associated with withdrawal. Pharmacological activation of mGluR8, which is preferentially expressed in Tshz1 neurons, reduced withdrawal aversion. Thus, by dissociating the circuit mechanisms contributing to the physical and affective components of opioid withdrawal focusing on the critical role of Tshz1 neurons, we have identified a novel druggable target with therapeutic potential for treating key OUD withdrawal symptoms.