Sex Differences in μ-Opioid Receptor Regulation of the Rat Locus Coeruleus and Their Cognitive Consequences.

ABSTRACT: Stress-related neuropsychiatric pathologies are more prevalent in females compared with males. An important component of the stress response is activation of the locus coeruleus (LC)-norepinephrine system. Because LC activation is tempered by endogenous opioid release during stress, the magnitude of opioid regulation of the LC could determine stress vulnerability. Here we report convergent evidence for decreased μ-opioid receptor (MOR) function in the female rat LC. The selective MOR agonist, DAMGO (10 pg), completely inhibited LC discharge of male but not female rats and DAMGO (30 pg) produced no further inhibition of female LC neurons. Consistent with a decreased maximum DAMGO response, MOR protein and mRNA expression were decreased in female compared with male LC. These molecular and ce

SUBMITTER: Guajardo HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5437881 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature