Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Isolation of Cerebral Capillaries from Fresh Human Brain Tissue
Published on: September 12, 2018
[Effects of morphine and pethidine on the expression of P-glycoprotein in mouse brain microvascular endothelial
Jian Su1, Xiang-cai Ruan, Yue-hong Zhang
1Department of Anesthesiology, First Municipal Hospital of Guangzhou Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510180, China. 434800989@qq.com
Objective:
To observe the effects of morphine and pethidine on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells and investigate the role of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway in morphine-induced up-expression of P-gp.
Methods:
The mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell line (b.END3) was subjected to pre-incubation with NF-kappaB inhibitor PDTC (5 micromol/L) for 1 h followed by stimulation with morphine (1 microg/ml) or pethidine (1 microg/ml) for 24 h. The bEnd.3 cells were then collected for Western blotting for P-gp expression.
Results:
A 24-h morphine stimulation induced an up-expression of P-gp in bEnd.3 cells by almost 200%. Pethidine in similar conditions did not affect P-gp expression in the cells. PDTC, the specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB, inhibited morphine-induced up-expression of P-gp in the cells.
Conclusion:
Morphine can induce up-expression of endogenous P-gp in mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells. NF-kappaB signaling pathway is involved in the morphine-induced up-expression of P-gp.

