biostudies-literatureUnknown16Barry JOpioids are the most common medications for moderate to severe pain. Unfortunately, they also have addictive properties that have precipitated opioid misuse and the opioid epidemic. In the present study, we examined the effects of acute administration of oxycodone, a μ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist, on Ca²⁺ transient activity of medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) in freely moving animals. Ca²⁺ imaging of MSNs in dopamine D1-Cre mice (expressing Cre predominantly in the direct pathway) or adenosine A2A-Cre mice (expressing Cre predominantly in the indirect pathway) was obtained with the aid of miniaturized microscopes (Miniscopes) and a genetically encoded Cre-dependent Ca²⁺ indicator (GCaMP6f). Systemic injections of oxycodone (3 mg/kg) increased locomotor aFrontiers in neural circuits983323https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9643681biostudies-literatureDissociable effects of oxycodone on behavior, calcium transient activity, and excitability of dorsolateral striatal neurons.PMC9643681Oikonomou KDLevine MSCepeda CBarry JPeng AYu DGolshani PEvans CJYang CfalseDissociable effects of oxycodone on behavior, calcium transient activity, and excitability of dorsolateral striatal neurons.Opioids are the most common medications for moderate to severe pain. Unfortunately, they also have addictive properties that have precipitated opioid misuse and the opioid epidemic. In the present study, we examined the effects of acute administration of oxycodone, a μ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist, on Ca²⁺ transient activity of medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) in freely moving animals. Ca²⁺ imaging of MSNs in dopamine D1-Cre mice (expressing Cre predominantly in the direct pathway) or adenosine A2A-Cre mice (expressing Cre predominantly in the indirect pathway) was obtained with the aid of miniaturized microscopes (Miniscopes) and a genetically encoded Cre-dependent Ca²⁺ indicator (GCaMP6f). Systemic injections of oxycodone (3 mg/kg) increased locomotor a2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-25T19:27:09.448Z2025-04-06T08:01:18.141ZS-EPMC96436813638917910.3389/fncir.2022.983323