Neuropharmacology
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Opioid drugs have been proposed to promote anti-apoptotic signals in brain through inhibition of FADD protein [García-Fuster et al., 2007. Effects of opiate drugs on Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD) and effector caspases in the rat brain: Regulation by the ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway. Neuropsychopharmacology 32, 399-411]. ⋯ In contrast to FADD, the ability of SNC-80 to stimulate p-FADD was not sensitive to ERK1/2 blockade. Pertussis toxin did not prevent the opposite effects of SNC-80 on p-FADD and FADD because the toxin by itself markedly altered their basal contents, indicating that FADD could be a novel toxin target. The upregulation of p-FADD induced by mu/delta-agonists could play a relevant role in the anti-apoptotic and/or neuroplastic effects of opioids.