Ghrelin receptor antagonist JMV2959 blunts cocaine and oxycodone drug-seeking, but not self-administration, in male rats.

The drug overdose crisis has spawned serious health consequences, including the increased incidence of substance use disorders (SUDs), conditions manifested by escalating medical and psychological impairments. While medication management is a key adjunct in SUD treatment, this crisis has crystallized the need to develop additional therapeutics to facilitate extended recovery from SUDs. The "hunger hormone" ghrelin acts by binding to the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1α (GHS1αR) to control homeostatic and hedonic aspects of food intake and has been implicated in the mechanisms underlying SUDs.

Pimavanserin and Lorcaserin Attenuate Measures of Binge Eating in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by dysregulated feeding and reward-related processes, and treatment is often challenged by limited therapeutic options. The serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT receptor (5-HTR) and 5-HTR are implicated in both feeding-related and reward-related behaviors and are thus poised to regulate BED-related behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of the FDA-approved medications pimavanserin, a 5-HTR antagonist/inverse agonist, and lorcaserin, a 5-HTR agonist, in a rodent model of binge eating.