title: Differential expressions of the alternatively spliced variant mRNAs of the µ opioid receptor gene, OPRM1, in brain regions of four inbred mouse strains.
abstract: The µ opioid receptor gene, OPRM1, undergoes extensive alternative pre-mRNA splicing in rodents and humans, with dozens of alternatively spliced variants of the OPRM1 gene. The present studies establish a SYBR green quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to more accurately quantify mouse OPRM1 splice variant mRNAs. Using these qPCR assays, we examined the expression of OPRM1 splice variant mRNAs in selected brain regions of four inbred mouse strains displaying differences in µ opioid-induced tolerance and physical dependence: C56BL/6J, 129P3/J, SJL/J and SWR/J. The complete mRNA expression profiles of the OPRM1 splice variants reveal marked differences of the variant mRNA expression among the brain regions in each mouse strain, suggesting region-specific alternative splicing of the OPRM1 gene. The expression of many variants was also strain-specific, implying a genetic influence on OPRM1 alternative splicing. The expression levels of a number of the variant mRNAs in certain brain regions appear to correlate with strain sensitivities to morphine analgesia, tolerance and physical dependence in four mouse strains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Long Island University, Post Campus, Brookville, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Grace C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Center for Developmental Neuroscience, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kest
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Center for Developmental Neuroscience, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Waxman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Gavril W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Pasternak
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ying-Xian
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu