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Related Concept Videos

Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

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Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
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Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
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Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
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Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

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Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2,...
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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents01:17

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Diarrhea, a condition marked by frequent loose or watery bowel movements, can be triggered by multiple factors such as viral or bacterial infections, food intolerances, anxiety, medications, and digestive disorders. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and cramping. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to complications like electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and dehydration if left untreated.
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Nociception01:44

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Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain.
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Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
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Insulated by opioids.

Leslie K Ferrarelli1

  • 1Science Signaling, AAAS, Washington, DC 20005, USA.

Science Signaling
|July 2, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Opioids cause myelin insulation of brain reward pathways. This process creates a feedforward loop that reinforces addiction behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurobiology
  • Addiction Research

Background:

  • Addiction is a chronic brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use.
  • The brain's reward circuitry plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of addiction.
  • Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying addiction is critical for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of opioids on the myelin insulation of axons within the reward circuit.
  • To elucidate the role of this myelination process in the feedforward loop of addiction.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized rodent models to examine changes in myelin and axonal structure.
  • Employed advanced imaging techniques to visualize myelin sheath formation around reward circuit neurons.

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  • Assessed behavioral responses related to reward seeking and addiction.

    • Main Results:

    • Opioid administration was found to significantly increase myelin insulation around reward circuit axons.
    • This enhanced myelination was directly linked to the strengthening of the addiction-related feedforward loop.
    • The findings suggest a novel mechanism by which opioids alter neural circuit function.

    Conclusions:

    • Opioid-induced myelination of reward circuit axons represents a key neurobiological adaptation in addiction.
    • This process may contribute to the persistent and compulsive nature of drug seeking.
    • Targeting myelination could offer a new therapeutic strategy for addiction treatment.