Expression Of Morphine Research Articles

Treatment with a heme oxygenase 1 inducer enhances the antinociceptive effects of µ-opioid, δ-opioid, and cannabinoid 2 receptors during inflammatory pain.

The administration of µ-opioid receptor (MOR), δ-opioid receptor (DOR), and cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R) agonists attenuates inflammatory pain. We investigated whether treatment with the heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) inducer, cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP), could modulate the local effects and expression of MOR, DOR, or CB2R during chronic inflammatory pain. In mice with inflammatory pain induced by the subplantar administration of complete Freund's adjuvant, we evaluated the effects of the intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg/kg CoPP on the antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic actions of locally administered MOR (morphine), DOR (DPDPE {[d-Pen(2),d-Pen(5)]-enkephalin}), or CB2R [JWH-015 {(2-methyl-1-propyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-naphthalenylmethanone}] agonists and its reversion with the HO-1 inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP). The effect of CoPP treatment on the dorsal root ganglia expression of HO-1, MOR, DOR, and CB2R was also assessed. The results show that treatment with CoPP increased the local antinociceptive effects produced by morphine, DPDPE, or JWH-015 during chronic inflammatory pain, and these effects were blocked by the subplantar administration of SnPP, indicating the participation of HO-1 in the antinociceptive actions. CoPP treatment, apart from inducing the expression of HO-1, also enhanced the expression of MOR, did not alter CB2R, and avoided the decreased expression of DOR induced by inflammatory pain. This study shows that the HO-1 inducer (CoPP) increased the local antinociceptive effects of MOR, DOR, and CB2R agonists during inflammatory pain by altering the peripheral expression of MOR and DOR. Therefore, the coadministration of CoPP with local morphine, DPDPE, or JWH-015 may be a good strategy for the management of chronic inflammatory pain.

Treatment with Carbon Monoxide-releasing Molecules and an HO-1 Inducer Enhances the Effects and Expression of µ-Opioid Receptors during Neuropathic Pain

The administration of µ-opioid receptors (MOR) and δ-opioid receptors (DOR) as well as cannabinoid-2 receptor (CB2R) agonists attenuates neuropathic pain. We investigated if treatment with two carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORM-2 and CORM-3) or an inducible heme oxygenase inducer (cobalt protoporphyrin IX, CoPP) could modulate the local and systemic effects and expression of MOR, DOR, and CB2R during neuropathic pain. In C57BL/6 mice, at 10 days after the chronic constriction of sciatic nerve, we evaluated the effects of the intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg/kg of CORM-2, CORM-3, or CoPP on the antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic actions of a locally or systemically administered MOR (morphine), DOR ([d-Pen(2),d-Pen(5)]-enkephalin) or CB2R ((2-methyl-1-propyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-naphthalenylmethanone ) agonist. The effects of CORM-2 and CoPP treatments on the expression of MOR, DOR, CB2R, inducible and constitutive heme oxygenases, microglia activation marker (CD11b/c), and neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthases were also assessed. Treatments with CO-RMs and CoPP reduced the mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity induced by sciatic nerve injury, increased the local, but not systemic, antinociceptive effects of morphine, and decreased those produced by DPDPE and JWH-015. Both CORM-2 and CoPP treatments enhanced MOR and inducible heme oxygenase expression, unaltered DOR and constitutive heme oxygenase expression, and decreased the overexpression of CB2R, CD11b/c, and neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthases induced by sciatic nerve injury. This study shows that CO-RMs and CoPP treatments increase the local antinociceptive effects of morphine through enhancing MOR peripheral expression and inhibiting spinal microglial activation and overexpression of neuronal/inducible nitric oxide synthases.

Amphetamine- and morphine-induced feeding: Evidence for involvement of reward mechanisms

The present study examined the possibility that the increased feeding found following central and peripheral administrations of low doses of d-amphetamine (AMP) and morphine (MOR) may involve central reward mechanisms. In order to examine this possibility, the effects of these drugs on food selection and intake of foods that varied in palatability and nutritive content were determined. In addition, the importance of the nucleus accumbens (ACB), a critical structure for AMP and MOR reward, in these effects was determined. Results indicated that MOR increased the intake of preferred food regardless of nutritive content. In contrast, AMP was most effective at increasing the intake of preferred foods which contained carbohydrates. These effects were observed following systematic or intra-ACB administration of low doses of MOR and AMP. Together these findings implicate reward mechanisms in the expression of MOR- and AMP-induced feeding. It is further suggested that the feeding effects of MOR and AMP can be differentiated in paradigms where animals have a choice of several foods which may vary in palatability and/or nutritive content. The relevance of the present findings for our understanding of which elements of food and feeding behavior are coupled with ACB reward signals is also discussed.