Oxycodone-Mediated Activation of the Mu Opioid Receptor Reduces Whole Brain Functional Connectivity in Mice.

ABSTRACT: Oxycodone is a potent medicinal opioid analgesic to treat pain. It is also addictive and a main cause for the current opioid crisis. At present, the impact of oxycodone on coordinated brain network activities, and contribution of the mu opioid receptor (MOR) to these effects, is unknown. We used pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging in mice to characterize MOR-mediated oxycodone effects on whole-brain functional connectivity (FC). Control (CTL) and MOR knockout (KO) animals were imaged under dexmedetomidine in a 7Tesla scanner. Acquisition was performed continuously before and after 2 mg/kg oxycodone administration (analgesic in CTL mice). Independent component analysis (data-driven) produced a correlation matrix, showing widespread oxycodone-induced reduction of FC across 71 componen

SUBMITTER: Nasseef MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7088903 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature