title: The μ-opioid receptor: an electrophysiologist's perspective from the sharp end.
abstract: Morphine, the prototypical opioid analgesic drug, produces its behavioural effects primarily through activation of μ-opioid receptors expressed in neurones of the central and peripheral nervous systems. This perspective provides a historical view of how, over the past 40 years, the use of electrophysiological recording techniques has helped to reveal the molecular mechanisms by which acute and chronic activation of μ-opioid receptors by morphine and other opioid drugs modify neuronal function.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This article is part of a themed section on Opioids: New Pathways to Functional Selectivity. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-2.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Henderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu
keywords: electrophysiology; locus coeruleus; morphine; opioid