| First Author | Niikura K | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | Neurosci Lett | Volume | 435 |
| Issue | 3 | Pages | 257-62 |
| PubMed ID | 18359165 | Mgi Jnum | J:136855 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3797201 | Doi | 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.02.059 |
| Citation | Niikura K, et al. (2008) Direct evidence for the involvement of endogenous beta-endorphin in the suppression of the morphine-induced rewarding effect under a neuropathic pain-like state. Neurosci Lett 435(3):257-62 |
| abstractText | Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that when opioids are used to control pain, psychological dependence is not a major problem. In this study, we further investigated the mechanisms that underlie the suppression of opioid reward under neuropathic pain in rodents. Sciatic nerve ligation suppressed a place preference induced by the selective mu-opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala(2), N-MePhe(4), Gly-ol(5)] enkephalin (DAMGO) and reduced both the increase in the level of extracellular dopamine by s.c. morphine in the nucleus accumbens and guanosine-5'-o-(3-[(35)S]thio) triphosphate ([(35)S]GTPgammaS) binding to membranes of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) induced by DAMGO. These effects were eliminated in mice that lacked the beta-endorphin gene. Furthermore, intra-VTA injection of a specific antibody to the endogenous mu-opioid peptide beta-endorphin reversed the suppression of the DAMGO-induced rewarding effect by sciatic nerve ligation in rats. These results provide molecular evidence that nerve injury results in the continuous release of endogenous beta-endorphin to cause the dysfunction of mu-opioid receptors in the VTA. This phenomenon could explain the mechanism that underlies the suppression of opioid reward under a neuropathic pain-like state. |
