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opioid receptors

·January 13, 2023·6 min read

Scientists Take Another Step Toward Building a Better, Safer Opioid

Using cryoEM technology, researchers have decoded the detailed structures of an entire family of opioid receptors bound to their naturally occurring peptides. This new structural framework should help in the development of safer, more effective medications to treat chronic pain.

This shows a drawing of a mouse and a brain slice

Featured Neuroscience

·October 7, 2022·3 min read

Daylight Hours Impact Opioid Receptor Levels in Brown Fat

Shorter daylight hours increase opioid receptor signaling in the brown fat of animals.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 3, 2021·3 min read

Brain Reveals the Risk for Developing Obesity

The functional connectivity of neural networks associated with satiety and appetite are altered prior to the development of obesity.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 23, 2021·4 min read

Seasonal Variation in Daylight Influences Brain Function

The seasonal duration of daylight influences the number of opioid receptors in the brain. The findings shed new light on a potential mechanism behind seasonal affective disorder.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 29, 2020·3 min read

Age, sex and smoking influence opioid receptor function in the brain

Age, sex, and gender influence the organization of the brain's opioid system. Findings shed light on why there are significant differences between the opioid system on an individual level, and why some are more prone to developing opioid-linked pathologies than others.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 31, 2019·4 min read

Ketamine isn’t an opioid and treats depression in a unique way

A new study clarifies the mechanism behind how ketamine works as an antidepressant. Researchers say there is evidence to suggest ketamine binds to NMDA receptors, instead of opioid receptors. Reducing the belief that ketamine is an opioid may make patients with depression more open to using the treatment.

This shows a hand holding a blue laser light.

Featured Neurology

·April 30, 2015·6 min read

Using Light To Activate Opioid Receptors and Relieve Pain

Researchers have successfully activated the brain's opioid receptors using optogenetics.

This image shows four PET brain scans associated with this study.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 4, 2015·1 min read

Obesity Is Associated with Lowered Opioid Receptor Availability

Using neuroimaging technology, researchers discover lower numbers of opioid receptors in the brain of obese people.

Featured Neurology

·March 10, 2014·4 min read

Study Identifies New Drug Target for Chronic Touch Evoked Pain

Researchers have identified a subset of neurons which mediate tactile allodynia, a touch evoked pain condition that is resistant to conventional pain medications.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 13, 2014·3 min read

Scientists Develop Promising Drug Candidates for Pain, Addiction

Researchers describe a pair of drug candidates which advance the search for new treatments for addiction, pain and other disorders.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 12, 2014·4 min read

Scientists Solve 40-year Mystery of How Sodium Controls Opioid Brain Signaling

Researchers discover how sodium influences the signalling of opioid receptors.

The image shows the mu opioid receptor. The caption best describes the image.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 14, 2013·5 min read

Researchers Design Variant of Main Painkiller Receptor

Researchers have developed a variant of the Mu opioid receptor which has several advantages for experimentation The variant can be grown in large quantities and is water soluble, allowing for experiments and applications which have previously been challenging.

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opioid receptors

Scientists Take Another Step Toward Building a Better, Safer Opioid

Daylight Hours Impact Opioid Receptor Levels in Brown Fat

Brain Reveals the Risk for Developing Obesity

Seasonal Variation in Daylight Influences Brain Function

Age, sex and smoking influence opioid receptor function in the brain

Ketamine isn’t an opioid and treats depression in a unique way

Using Light To Activate Opioid Receptors and Relieve Pain

Obesity Is Associated with Lowered Opioid Receptor Availability

Study Identifies New Drug Target for Chronic Touch Evoked Pain

Scientists Develop Promising Drug Candidates for Pain, Addiction

Scientists Solve 40-year Mystery of How Sodium Controls Opioid Brain Signaling

Researchers Design Variant of Main Painkiller Receptor

Wasabi Compound Enhances Memory

Genes Associated with Earlier and Higher Reproduction Linked to Accelerated Aging

Novel Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Shows Promise

Brain’s Response to Crucial Language Hub Removal: New Insights

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