The goal of this application is to utilize opioid receptor knockout mice to answer several important questions concerning opioid receptor pharmacology. The initial series of experiments will explore and characterize the binding site responsible for the analgesic action of delta opioid ligands in DOR-1 KO mice. Concurrent studies using an inducible DOR-1 KO mouse will identify whether the effects if delta ligands in DOR-1 KO mice are due to compensatory mechanisms induced by ablation of the DOR-1 gene or unmasking of a hereto unknown delta opioid receptor system. These studies will clarify the identity of a receptor system involved in analgesia, which could then be exploited for therapeutic benefit. We will also determine whether the DOR-1 gene product can account for both pharmacologically defined delta opioid receptor subtypes by forming homodimers with itself or heterodimers with mu opioid receptor. Finally, as suggested by preliminary data we will examine whether the formation of morphine tolerance is correlated with a decrease in mu/ delta opioid receptor heterodimers. Confirmation and localization of in vivo mu/delta opioid heterodimers and clarification of a possible role for mu/delta heterodimers in development of morphine tolerance will help uncover treatments by which the analgesic action of morphine tolerance will help uncover treatments by which the analgesic action of morphine are not lost, but morphine dependence is lost.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32DA014755-02
Application #
6656215
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Babecki, Beth
Project Start
2002-10-01
Project End
Budget Start
2002-10-01
Budget End
2003-09-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$44,212
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
622146454
City
Piscataway
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
08854
Ansonoff, Michael A; Wen, Ting; Pintar, John E (2010) Kappa2 opioid receptor subtype binding requires the presence of the DOR-1 gene. Front Biosci (Schol Ed) 2:772-80
Ansonoff, Michael A; Zhang, Jiwen; Czyzyk, Traci et al. (2006) Antinociceptive and hypothermic effects of Salvinorin A are abolished in a novel strain of kappa-opioid receptor-1 knockout mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 318:641-8
Neilan, Claire L; King, Michael A; Rossi, Grace et al. (2003) Differential sensitivities of mouse strains to morphine and [Dmt1]DALDA analgesia. Brain Res 974:254-7