British journal of pharmacology
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Opioids, such as morphine, are the most effective treatment for pain but their efficacy is diminished with the development of tolerance following repeated administration. Recently, we found that morphine activated ERK in opioid-tolerant but not in naïve rats, suggesting that morphine activation of μ-opioid receptors is altered following repeated morphine administration. Here, we have tested the hypothesis that μ-opioid receptor activation of ERK in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) is dependent on dynamin, a protein implicated in receptor endocytosis. ⋯ This article is part of a themed section on Opioids: New Pathways to Functional Selectivity. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-2.
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Single-prolonged stress (SPS), a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), also induces long-lasting hyperalgesia associated with hypocortisolism and elevated nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) levels in serum and CSF. Here, we determined the effect of JTC-801 (N-(4-amino-2-methylquinolin-6-yl)-2-(4-ethylphenoxymethyl) benzamide monohydrochloride), a nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor antagonist, on symptoms of pain and anxiety in rats after SPS exposure, and examined N/OFQ-NOP receptor system changes. ⋯ This article is part of a themed section on Opioids: New Pathways to Functional Selectivity. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-2.
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Tapentadol is a novel analgesic that combines moderate μ-opioid receptor agonism and noradrenaline reuptake inhibition in a single molecule. Both mechanisms of action are involved in producing analgesia; however, the potency and efficacy of tapentadol in individual neurons has not been characterized. ⋯ This article is part of a themed section on Opioids: New Pathways to Functional Selectivity. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-2.
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Substantial evidence shows that negative reinforcement resulting from the aversive affective consequences of opiate withdrawal may play a crucial role in drug relapse. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the loss (extinction) of conditioned aversion of drug withdrawal could facilitate the treatment of drug addiction. ⋯ This article is part of a themed section on Opioids: New Pathways to Functional Selectivity. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-2.
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Neurosteroids potentiate responses of the GABAA receptor to the endogenous agonist GABA. Here, we examined the ability of neurosteroids to potentiate responses to the allosteric activators etomidate, pentobarbital and propofol. ⋯ Potentiating neurosteroids act similarly on orthosterically and allosterically activated GABAA receptors. Co-application of neurosteroids with etomidate can significantly reduce dosage requirements for the anaesthetic, and is a potentially beneficial combination to reduce undesired side effects.