Opioid receptor knockout mice
by
Sora I Department of Psychopharmacology,
Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, Japan.
Nihon Shinkei Seishin Yakurigaku Zasshi 1999 Dec; 19(5):239-49

ABSTRACT

Mu, delta, kappa opioid receptors are target molecules for analgesia, reward and many physiological functions of opiates. Opioid receptor knockout mice generated by gene-targeting technology which can introduce mutation into specified locus provide invaluable animal models to elucidate the in vivo function of opiates and develop new therapeutic drugs. The disruptions of mu receptor expression decreases the nociceptive threshold to thermal stimuli and increases the threshold to visceral chemical stimuli paradoxically. Analgesia, reward, respiratory depression, constipation, immunosuppression and physical dependence induced by morphine are absent in mice lacking the mu receptor. These data show that the mu receptor is a molecular target for most effects of morphine, both therapeutic and side effects. mu Receptor expression is required for most delta receptor-mediated and some kappa receptor analgesic effects. These results support substantial roles for mu receptor in the analgesic properties of delta, kappa receptors. Cocaine and ethanol reward require mu receptor systems' intactness. Mice lacking the mu receptor will be a useful tool to study complex interactions between endogenous opiate and dopamine systems.

Mu3
SOD Mu
Naloxonazine
Endomorphins
Dihydroetorphine
Receptor subtypes
Mu : gender and age
Morphine/verapamil
Fentanyl and ketamine
Dynorphin and dopamine
Genes, pharmacology and mu
Depression, opioids and the HPA
Kappa upregulation and addiction
Nicotine and the mu opioid receptors
Mu-opioid receptors, drugs and reward
Mice without mu don't miss their moms
Opioids, depression and learned helplessness

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