RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Cerebral μ-opioid and CB1-receptor systems have distinct roles in human feeding behavior JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2020.12.17.423284 DO 10.1101/2020.12.17.423284 A1 Tatu Kantonen A1 Tomi Karjalainen A1 Laura Pekkarinen A1 Janne Isojärvi A1 Kari Kalliokoski A1 Valtteri Kaasinen A1 Jussi Hirvonen A1 Pirjo Nuutila A1 Lauri Nummenmaa YR 2021 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/02/03/2020.12.17.423284.abstract AB Eating behavior varies greatly between healthy individuals, but the neurobiological basis of these trait-like differences in feeding remains unknown. Central µ-opioid receptors (MOR) and cannabinoid CB1-receptors (CB1R) regulate energy balance via multiple neural pathways, promoting food intake and reward. Because obesity and eating disorders have been associated with alterations in the brain’s opioid and endocannabinoid signaling, the variation in MOR and CB1R system function could potentially underlie distinct eating behavior phenotypes. In this retrospective positron emission tomography (PET) study, we analyzed [11C]carfentanil PET scans of MORs from 92 healthy subjects (70 males and 22 females), and [18F]FMPEP-d2 scans of CB1Rs from 35 subjects (all males, all also included in the [11C]carfentanil sample). Eating styles were measured with the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). We found that lower cerebral MOR availability was associated with increased external eating – individuals with low MORs reported being more likely to eat in response to environment’s palatable food cues. CB1R availability was associated with multiple eating behavior traits. We conclude that although MORs and CB1Rs overlap anatomically and functionally in the brain, they have distinct roles in mediating individual feeding patterns.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.