title: Chronic opiate agonists down-regulate prodynorphin gene expression in rat brain.
abstract: The effects of long-term administration of opioid agonists on the regulation of prodynorphin gene expression in rat brain were investigated. Chronic intracerebroventricular treatment with the synthetic opioid agonist acting on the kappa receptor, U-50,488H, and the classic mu agonist morphine markedly decreased prodynorphin mRNA levels in hypothalamus, hippocampus and striatum of tolerant rats. Levels of ir-Dynorphin A remained unchanged except in two cases. Chronic exposure to opiates thus appears to induce modifications of the endogenous opioid system, as regards gene expression regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romualdi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lesa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015342:DNA Probes; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D015342:DNA Probes; D004745:Enkephalins; D009294:Narcotics; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D009020:Morphine; C033660:preproenkephalin