Constitutive μ-Opioid Receptor Activity Leads to Long-Term Endogenous Analgesia and Dependence

Abstract

Pain and Dependence The properties and functions of µ-opioid receptors have been studied intensively with respect to the binding of endogenous or exogenous ligands. However, much less is known about the constitutive, ligand-independent, activation of opioid receptors. Working in mice, Corder et al. (p. 1394 ) observed the prolonged constitutive activation of µ-opioid receptors in the spinal dorsal horn after transient peripheral inflammation. The results suggest that constitutive activation of µ-opioid receptors depresses nociception—the perception of pain—for long periods of time and induces cellular and physical dependence on endogenous opioid signaling.