Increased phosphorylated-mu-opioid receptor immunoreactivity in the mouse spinal cord following sciatic nerve ligation

Neurosci Lett. 2004 Jan 9;354(2):148-52. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2003.09.077.

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine whether a state of neuropathic pain induced by sciatic nerve ligation could alter phosphorylated-mu-opioid receptor-like immunoreactivity in the superficial dorsal horn of the mouse spinal cord. Mice with sciatic nerve ligation exhibited a significant suppression of the morphine-induced antinociception. Under this condition, phosphorylated-mu-opioid receptor-like immunoreactivity was clearly increased on the ipsilateral side in the superficial laminae of the L5 lumbar spinal dorsal horn in nerve-ligated mice. These findings suggest that the phosphorylation of the mu-opioid receptor in the spinal cord under a neuropathic pain-like state may, at least in part, contribute to the reduction in the antinociceptive effect produced by morphine in the mouse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Afferent Pathways / drug effects
  • Afferent Pathways / metabolism
  • Afferent Pathways / physiopathology
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Ligation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Morphine / pharmacology
  • Neuralgia / drug therapy
  • Neuralgia / metabolism*
  • Neuralgia / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / metabolism*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Posterior Horn Cells / drug effects
  • Posterior Horn Cells / metabolism*
  • Posterior Horn Cells / pathology
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / drug effects
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / metabolism*
  • Sciatic Neuropathy / drug therapy
  • Sciatic Neuropathy / metabolism
  • Sciatic Neuropathy / physiopathology
  • Spinal Cord / drug effects
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • Morphine