By incorporating fluorescing receptors in neurons of mice, the team showed it was possible to visualize the activity of opioids as they operated inside a living brain.

More information: Jun Yu et al, Structural basis of μ-opioid receptor targeting by a nanobody antagonist, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52947-6 Provided by University of ...

Opioid medications tap into the body's natural system for mitigating pain by activating pain-suppressing opioid receptors on nerve cells in the brain. Although the drugs are intended to help ...

Kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) agonists represent a promising class of compounds that modulate pain, mood and various neurobehavioural processes. Unlike traditional opioids that primarily target the ...

“The goals of this project are proof of concept that NPS receptor-targeted molecules can mitigate opioid seeking,” he says. “And whether these same molecules can reduce oxycodone taking and reduce the ...

Women with anorexia had higher levels of mu-opioid receptor availability in key areas of the brain involved in reward processing, such as the caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens.

Now, the Stanford team has identified a potential compound, named "368," which selectively binds to the opioid receptors and enhances their affinity with naloxone boosting the latter's potency by ...

The addictive nature of opioids affects 60 million people worldwide, with overdose deaths exceeding 100,000 each year, especially from fentanyl, an opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Most current pain medications target the mu receptor, but UF researchers are pioneering a new strategy focused on the delta opioid receptor, which could offer pain relief with fewer side effects.

"However, 7-OH demonstrates substantially greater mu-opioid receptor potency than kratom’s primary alkaloid constituent mitragynine, as well as other classical opioids such as morphine," the FDA ...