The interaction of opioids and stimulants is well established; however, the mechanisms that underlie the role that opioid receptors play in psychostimulant action are not. Nociceptin/orphaninFQ (N/OFQ), the endogenous agonist at NOP receptors, attenuates the behavioral effects of cocaine. The effects of cocaine on N/OFQ were examined in rats using immunoautoradiographic and RIA techniques. Chronic administration of cocaine decreased N/OFQ in medial regions of the caudate putamen, the nucleus accumbens shell, and the substantia nigra. These studies show that N/OFQ levels are altered by treatment with cocaine. Furthermore, the changes in N/OFQ parallel those seen for kappa-opioid receptors, suggesting that the interactions between cocaine and these systems might be similar.
ROMUALDI P., DI BENEDETTO M., D'ADDARIO C., COLLINS S. L., WADE D., CANDELETTI S., et al. (2007). Chronic cocaine produces decreases in N/OFQ peptide levels in select rat brain regions. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE, 31, 163-168 [10.1385/JMN/31:02:159].
Chronic cocaine produces decreases in N/OFQ peptide levels in select rat brain regions.
ROMUALDI, PATRIZIA;DI BENEDETTO, MANUELA;CANDELETTI, SANZIO;
2007
Abstract
The interaction of opioids and stimulants is well established; however, the mechanisms that underlie the role that opioid receptors play in psychostimulant action are not. Nociceptin/orphaninFQ (N/OFQ), the endogenous agonist at NOP receptors, attenuates the behavioral effects of cocaine. The effects of cocaine on N/OFQ were examined in rats using immunoautoradiographic and RIA techniques. Chronic administration of cocaine decreased N/OFQ in medial regions of the caudate putamen, the nucleus accumbens shell, and the substantia nigra. These studies show that N/OFQ levels are altered by treatment with cocaine. Furthermore, the changes in N/OFQ parallel those seen for kappa-opioid receptors, suggesting that the interactions between cocaine and these systems might be similar.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
