title: Effects of morphine and methadone treatment on mRNA expression of Gα(i) subunits in rat brains.
abstract: Methadone is clinically effective as substitution therapy in patients with opioid dependence. The diversity of methadone and morphine in their intracellular activity is postulated. We compared the effects of repeated daily treatment of Sprague-Dawley rats with morphine (10 mg/kg) and methadone (1 mg/kg) on the expression of the Gα(i1-i3) mRNAs in several rat brain areas using RT-qPCR. We found that both opioid receptor agonists decreased Gα(i3) mRNA in only the nucleus accumbens. Although there was no difference in the influence of morphine and methadone on Gα(i), our results indicate that among Gα(i) subunits, the Gα(i3) is specifically involved in the mechanism of action of both drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain Biochemistry, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zelek-Molik
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taracha
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nawrat
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bielawski
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehner
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Płaźnik
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nalepa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009020:Morphine; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; D008691:Methadone