title: Endometriosis Is Associated With a Shift in MU Opioid and NMDA Receptor Expression in the Brain Periaqueductal Gray.
abstract: Studies have examined how endometriosis interacts with the nervous system, but little attention has been paid to opioidergic systems, which are relevant to pain signaling. We used the autotransplantation rat model of endometriosis and allowed to progress for 60 days. The brain was collected and examined for changes in endogenous opioid peptides, mu opioid receptors (MORs), and the N-methyl-d-aspartate subunit receptor (NR1) in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), since both of these receptors can regulate PAG activity. No changes in endogenous opioid peptides in met- and leu-enkephalin or β-endorphin levels were observed within the PAG. However, MOR immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in the ventral PAG in the endometriosis group. Endometriosis reduced by 20% the number of neuronal profiles expressing MOR and reduced by 40% the NR1 profiles. Our results suggest that endometriosis is associated with subtle variations in opioidergic and glutamatergic activity within the PAG, which may have implications for pain processing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA Department of Clinical Psychology, Ponce Health Sciences University/Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR, USA anntorres@psm.edu.
authors.forename: Annelyn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres-Reverón
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA.
authors.forename: Karylane
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA.
authors.forename: Anixa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernández-López
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA.
authors.forename: Siomara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA.
authors.forename: Myrella L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA.
authors.forename: Kenira J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA.
authors.forename: Idhaliz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA.
authors.forename: Caroline B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Appleyard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000378:metabolism*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C409466:NR1 NMDA receptor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D001615:beta-Endorphin
keywords: endometriosis; mu opioid receptor; opioid peptides; periaqueductal gray; rat; stress