Kappa-opioid ligands produces antinociception without inducing aversion in mice

What is it about?

Mu-opioid receptor agonists, such as morphine, are efficacious analgesics, but produce serious side effects, including abuse potential. The kappa-opioid receptor also plays a central role in pain modulation. Although κappa-agonists do not cause the liabilities of mu-receptor activation, they induce dysphoria and sedation. We show that our new kappa-opioid ligands produce potent analgesia with fewer adverse effects due to lower efficacy to activate molecular pathways responsible for the non-beneficial effects.

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