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Related Experiment Videos

Mu opioid receptors in developing human spinal cord.

S B Ray1, S Wadhwa

  • 1Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi. sray@medinst.ernet.in

Journal of Anatomy
|September 3, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Mu opioid receptors are present in the developing human spinal cord, with expression changing over gestation. Both neurons and glial cells express these receptors during early development.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Mu opioid receptors play a crucial role in pain modulation and other neurological functions.
  • Understanding their developmental expression is key to comprehending early spinal cord function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distribution and expression patterns of mu opioid receptors in the developing human fetal spinal cord.
  • To determine if glial cells contribute to mu opioid receptor expression during development.

Main Methods:

  • Autoradiographic localization using [3H] DAMGO was performed on human fetal spinal cord tissue.
  • Gestational ages studied ranged from 12-13 weeks to 24-25 weeks.
  • Histological analysis was used to identify cell types, including glial cells.

Main Results:

  • Mu opioid receptors were detected in the dorsal horn at all studied gestational ages, with higher density in superficial laminae (I-II).
  • Receptor density showed a biphasic expression pattern, increasing between 12-13 and 16-17 weeks, and again at 24-25 weeks.
  • A significant proliferation of glial cells was observed, coinciding with increased receptor expression in areas like the lateral funiculus at 24-25 weeks.

Conclusions:

  • The human fetal spinal cord expresses mu opioid receptors in a dynamic, age-dependent manner.
  • Evidence suggests that both neurons and glial cells express mu opioid receptors during early human spinal cord development.
  • These findings provide insights into the developmental roles of the opioid system in the spinal cord.

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