Opioids and behavior: genetic aspects

Abstract

Three animal models, based on genetic differences in endogenous opioid peptides and opioid receptors, are described. Obese mice and rats, whose pituitary opioid content is elevated, may be used to investigate eating disorders. Recombinant inbred strains of mice, which differ in brain opioid receptors and analgesic responsiveness, can be used for study of opioid- and nonopioid-mediated mechanisms of pain inhibition. Individual reactivity to opioids can be examined in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 inbred strains of mice. A model that combines a variety of opioid effects is offered and suggests the existence of a genetically determined dissociation of opioid effects on locomotor activity and pain inhibition. In addition, stimulatory locomotor responses in the C57BL/6 reaction type are linked to a high risk of drug addiction and facilitatory effects on adaptive processes, while high analgesic potency in the DBA/2 reaction type is accompanied by a low proneness to drug abuse and amnesic properties of opioids.