title: Immune, neuroendocrine, and somatic alterations in animal models of human heroin abuse.
abstract: We investigated immune, endocrine, and somatic alterations using two animal models of human heroin administration. In a heroin self-administration paradigm, we observed changes in immune function which suggest that the cycle of intermittent drug use is actually a stressor, which in turn not only exacerbates craving and drug-seeking behavior but also collaterally causes suppression of immune function and therefore susceptibility to disease. In another model of rats made physically dependent to heroin, we show that immune function is more broadly compromised, leading to evidence of infection, followed by chronic activation of innate immune function, cachexia, and weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Therapeutic Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, IL 61605-1649, USA. rick@uic.il
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomez-Flores
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin