Suhani Suneja
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Jessica Anand
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Pharmacology / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 5 – 3:40pm – 4:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Suhani Suneja, Jessica Anand
Presenter: 33
Abstract
In 2017, approximately 191 million opioid prescriptions were dispensed to treat moderate-to-severe pain.(1) Clinically prescribed opioids are Mu Opioid Receptor (MOR) agonists. Stimulation of the MOR results in pain relief but also produces adverse effects of drug seeking, constipation, and tolerance to, and dependence on the opioids. Previous literature suggests a drug that is simultaneously a MOR agonist and a Delta Opioid Receptor (DOR) antagonist may present a better alternative, as they produce antinociception (pain relief) with less adverse effects. This research paper characterizes in vivo activity of 3 MOR agonist/DOR antagonist ligands. The authors hypothesized that these three compounds will produce antinociceptive effects with reduced adverse effects. The authors first confirmed the mixed efficacy ligands are MOR agonists and DOR antagonists in vivo. They then measured adverse effects of tolerance and physical dependence after administering chronic escalating doses of the mixed efficacy ligands. Drug seeking was measured by a Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) assay after repeated conditioning. Constipation was measured through determining the number of faecal boli produced. One compound, AAH8, stood out in producing the desired result of antinociception; while constipation was still present, it did not produce the adverse effects of tolerance, physical dependence or drug seeking behavior in vivo.
Biomedical Sciences, Public Health
