Publications by authors named "Kristina Komarek"
Opioid withdrawal is a liability of chronic opioid use and misuse, impacting people who use prescription or illicit opioids. Hyperactive autonomic output underlies many of the aversive withdrawal symptoms that make it difficult to discontinue chronic opioid use. The locus coeruleus (LC) is an important autonomic centre within the brain with a poorly defined role in opioid withdrawal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Dopamine receptors interact with other receptors to form heterooligomers. One such complex, the D1-D2 heteromer, demonstrated in cultured striatal neurons and rat striatum has been linked to drug addiction, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, depression and anhedonia.
Methods: D1-D2 heteromer expression was evaluated using in situ proximity ligation assay, in parallel with cellular colocalization of D1 and D2 mRNA using in situ hybridization in 19 different key rat brain regions.
Article Synopsis
- Pain significantly affects quality of life by creating negative emotions, and the κ opioid system plays a role in this connection, particularly related to chronic pain.
- Research using various techniques finds that chronic pain leads to increased expression and function of κ opioid receptors and dynorphin in brain areas linked to mood and reward in animals.
- Blocking these receptors can restore dopamine release and reduce negative feelings in both male and female mice, suggesting that κ opioid antagonists may serve as effective treatments for improving emotional wellbeing in chronic pain sufferers.