title: Numerical density of delta-opioid receptor expressing neurons in the frontal cortex of drug-related fatalities.
abstract: In animal experiment and in cell culture, chronic morphine treatment has been followed by a reduction as well as an increase of the delta-opioid receptor (OR) number. The present postmortem morphometric study of morphine-related fatalities of drug addicts (n=12, 22-35 years old, with blood unconjugated morphine levels from 27.1 to 407 ng/ml, m.v. 176.9 ng/ml) versus a non-addicted control group (n=13, 10-44 years old) is intended to examine whether chronic opiate exposure also affects the numerical density of deltaOR expressing neurons in the human neocortex (area 10 according to Brodmann (Vergleichende Lokalisationslehre der Grosshirnrinde (1909) Johann Ambrosius Barth, Leipzig)). For the immunohistochemical procedure, vibratome sections (100 microm) were incubated with a monoclonal antibody against the deltaOR diluted 1:100, and immunoreactive sites were visualized using an immunoperoxidase protocol. The numerical densities of OR expressing and Nissl-stained neurons were assessed morphometrically (camera lucida drawings). In both collectives, the anti deltaOR immunoreactivity was predominantly localized in pyramidal neurons of layers (L) II/III and V as well as in round and ovoid neurons of L VI. In the drug-related fatalities, the density of neurons expressing deltaOR protein amounted for 2515+/-240/mm(3), in the control group for 2616+/-204/mm(3), thus displaying no statistically significant difference. These findings go along with the binding behavior of opioid ligands in postmortem brains of heroin addicts revealing similar receptor densities and affinities in the control subjects and addicts.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmolke
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Musshoff
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menzen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prohaska
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Madea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002423:Cause of Death; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000032:analysis*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta