title: Molecular regulation of opioid receptors.
abstract: Opioid actions are initiated at membrane receptors which couple to cellular effectors through G protein-mediated pathways. In the central nervous system opioids reduce neuronal activity through the inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, the activation of K+ channels and the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. A significant clinical limitation to opioid therapy is the development of tolerance, a biological event that has been linked to agonist effects at the receptor level. Molecular studies on the consequences of opioid receptor regulation will provide a better understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved in the agonist-mediated events in tolerance development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bot
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tallent
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reisine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011957:Receptors, Opioid