Localization of endogenous morphine-like compounds in the mouse spinal cord.
J. Comp. Neurol.. 2012-03-06; 520(7): 1547-1561
DOI: 10.1002/cne.22811
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1. J Comp Neurol. 2012 May 1;520(7):1547-61. doi: 10.1002/cne.22811.
Localization of endogenous morphine-like compounds in the mouse spinal cord.
Laux A(1), Delalande F, Mouheiche J, Stuber D, Van Dorsselaer A, Bianchi E,
Bezard E, Poisbeau P, Goumon Y.
Author information:
(1)Nociception and Pain Department, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
and University of Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et
Intégratives, F-67084 Strasbourg, France.
Morphine, codeine, morphine-6-glucuronide, and morphine-3-glucuronide are
synthesized de novo in mammalian cells and in the central nervous system.
Knowledge on endogenous morphine-like compound distribution in the adult mouse
brain has been recently improved, and new hypotheses have been suggested about
the potential implications in brain physiology. Endogenous morphine-like
compounds have been shown to be synthesized in the spinal cord, but their
localization is unknown. Here we describe the distribution of endogenous
morphine-like compounds (morphine and/or its glucuronides and/or codeine) in the
adult mouse spinal cord using a well-validated antibody. By using different
microscopy approaches, we found the presence of morphine, codeine, or morphine
glucuronides in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons and astrocytes of the
spinal cord. Whereas GABAergic neurons containing endogenous morphine-like
compounds were located primarily in the ventral horn, astrocytes that were
labeled for morphine-like compounds were found throughout the gray matter and the
white matter. Our study demonstrates the possibility that endogenous
morphine-like compounds in the central nervous system have other functions beyond
their analgesic functions.
Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DOI: 10.1002/cne.22811
PMID: 22102217 [Indexed for MEDLINE]