Expression of mu-opioid receptors in developing rat spinal cord: an autoradiographic study.
The expression of mu-opioid receptors in the developing rat spinal cord (Postnatal days 7, 14, 30) was studied by autoradiography using [3H]DAMGO. When compared to camera lucida drawings, the receptor was noted over the entire gray matter and dorsal root ganglia at postnatal days 7 and 14. At postnatal day 30, the receptor expression decreased over the gray matter except the superficial laminae (laminae I and II). At all age groups studied, a higher expression of the receptor was noted over the superficial laminae. The study shows that micro-opioid receptors appears early in postnatal development and attains mature receptor distribution relatively late in ontogeny, suggesting a possible role in the normal development of nervous system. This is affirmed by an impairment of psychomotor development in babies born to mothers, addicted to opiates.
Ray
Subrata Basu
SB
Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110 029, India. sbr_aiims@hotmail.com
Wadhwa
Shashi
S
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography / Q000379:methods*; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology*; D013997:Time Factors
D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu