μ-Opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell mediate context-induced reinstatement (renewal) but not primed reinstatement of extinguished alcohol seeking.

Opioid antagonists reduce the rate of relapse to drinking in clinical trials and reduce reinstatement in animal models of drug seeking. However, the neuroanatomical locus for this effect remains poorly understood.

We examined the role of nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) μ-opioid receptors in two different forms of recovery of alcoholic beer seeking. Rats were trained to nosepoke for