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Endogenous morphine and parasitic helminthes
Stephen C Pryor1, Sherwyn Henry, Jennifer Sarfo
1State University of New York, Old Westbury Neuroscience Research Institute, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA.
Summary
Parasitic worms like Ascaris suum produce endogenous morphine, a pain-relieving substance. This discovery sheds light on the worms
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Parasitology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Endogenous opioids play crucial roles in physiological processes.
- The presence and function of endogenous morphine in parasitic helminths remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characterization of endogenous morphine and its metabolites in various parasitic worms.
- To explore the physiological roles and functional significance of endogenous morphine in Ascaris suum.
Main Methods:
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for isolation.
- Mass Spectrometry (MS) for characterization.
- Naloxone administration in infected mice to assess analgesia.
Main Results:
- Endogenous morphine identified in Schistosoma mansoni, Dracunculus medinensis, and Ascaris suum.
- Morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) detected in D. medinensis and A. suum.
- A morphine-like substance in Trichinella spiralis induced naloxone-reversible analgesia in infected mice.
- Detailed analysis of morphine's tissue distribution, secretion, and sexual dimorphism in A. suum.
Conclusions:
- Parasitic helminths can synthesize endogenous morphine and its metabolites.
- Morphine in A. suum functions as an internal signaling molecule and aids in immune evasion.
- These findings reveal novel biological roles for endogenous opioids in parasitic organisms.