Regional mRNA expression of the endogenous opioid and dopaminergic systems in brains of C57BL/6J and 129P3/J mice: strain and heroin effects

SD Schlussman, J Cassin, Y Zhang, O Levran… - Pharmacology …, 2011 - Elsevier
We have previously shown strain and dose differences in heroin-induced behavior, reward
and regional expression of somatostatin receptor mRNAs in C57BL/6J and 129P3/J mice.
Using Real Time PCR we examined the effects of five doses of heroin on the levels of the
transcripts of endogenous opioid peptides and their receptors and dopaminergic receptors
in the mesocorticolimbic and nigrostriatal pathways in these same mice. Compared to
C57BL/6J animals, 129P3/J mice had higher mRNA levels of Oprk1 in the nucleus …