Morphine-induced changes in the function of microglia and macrophages after acute spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opioids are among the most effective and commonly prescribed analgesics for the treatment of acute pain after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, morphine administration in the early phase of SCI undermines locomotor recovery, increases cell death, and decreases overall health in a rodent contusion model. Based on our previous studies we hypothesize that morphine acts on classic opioid receptors to alter the immune response. Indeed, we found that a single dose of intrathecal morphine increases the expression of activated microglia and macrophages at the injury site. Whether similar effects of morphine would be seen with repeated intravenous administration, more closely simulating clinical treatment, is not known.

Methods

To address this, we used flow cytometry to e

SUBMITTER: Terminel MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9552511 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature