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Morphine dependence and withdrawal induced changes in cholinergic signaling

Nichole M Neugebauer1, Emily B Einstein, Maria B Lopez

  • 1Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|May 9, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Morphine dependence alters cholinergic signaling, specifically increasing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the midbrain. While cholinergic drugs affect withdrawal behaviors, β4-containing nAChRs in the medial habenula do not drive these specific somatic signs.

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