Expression of NMDA receptor subunit 2A in the spinal cord of morphine tolerant rats

ObjectiveTo study the distribution and expression of NMDA receptor subunit 2A in the spinal cord of morphine tolerant rats. MethodsTwelve Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups with 6 rats each: control group (C) were intrathecally administrated 0.9% NaCl 10μl and morphine group(M) received 10μg morphine (i.t.). Drugs were administrated twice daily for 7 consecutive days. Tail flick latency (TFL) in the hot water immersion test was used to evaluate changes of thermal hyperalgesia latency of each group before and 30min after administration every morning. Rats were killed the day after last administration and L4～5 segment of the spinal cord was removed for determination the expression of NR2A by immunofluorescence method. ResultsTFL of group M was decreased gradually after chronic administration of morphine intrathecally. There was no significant difference between group M[(3.25±0.93)s] and group C[(2.66±0.27)s] on the 7th day (P＞0.05). A morphine tolerant model was established successfully. NR2A was distributed throughout the rat spinal cord. The expression of NR2A in group M(OD:9617±1233) was increased compared with group C(OD:2.66±0.93) (t=3.133,P＜0.05).ConclusionThe expression of NR2A was upregulated after repeated administration of morphine intrathecally in the superficial dorsal horn of spinal cord of morphine tolerant rats,which may be part of the mechanisms of morphine tolerance. Key words: Morphine tolerance; NR2A subunit; Spinal cord