We tested the hypothesis that opioid receptor subtypes differentially regulate IPSCs in the insular cortex.
A mu opioid receptor agonist suppressed unitary IPSCs to fast-spiking GABAergic neurons, but not to pyramidal neurons.
A delta opioid receptor agonist suppressed unitary IPSCs from fast-spiking to both fast-spiking and pyramidal neurons.
A kappa opioid receptor agonist had little effect on unitary IPSCs.
These specific synaptic regulations among opioid receptor agonists may result in their differential analgesic effects.