Enkephalins, hunger, and obesity
1979
McCloy, James | McCloy, R.F.
Autoaddiction to food is a possibility in humans. It is possible that the hunger drive is turned off in the gut by receptor-secretory cells located in the duodenum, which release enkephalin. Enkephalin appears to act as a local hormone on afferent neurons located nearby, part of the enkephalinergic system recognized as a drive-reduction reward by the hypothalamus. The number of secretory cells recruited by food moving into the duodenum determines the strength of the reward. Regular excess of enkephalin beyond the amount needed to reduce activity of each neuron would have an autoaddictive effect analogous to morphine. The rapid disappearance of enkephalin after a meal passes the duodenum causes a surge of activity in dependent neurons, creating withdrawal symptoms and cravings for between-meal snacks. An interesting side line to this theory is the effect of smoking which appears to relieve the hunger drive.
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