Mouse model for identifying morphine analogs with reduced side effects

the distillery This week in techniques Approach Summary Licensing status Mice that express a mutant µ-opioid receptor could be useful for identifying morphine analogs with reduced side effects such as tolerance and dependence. The mice, which were engineered to express µ-opioid receptors that undergo morphine-induced receptor endocytosis, had lower morphine tolerance and dependence than wild-type mice. Next steps could include screening libraries of opioids that promote endocytosis to identify therapeutics for chronic pain. No fewer than 11 companies market µ-opioid receptor agonists for various pain indications. Not patented; available for licensing Publication and contact information Disease models Mouse model for identifying morphine analogs with reduced side effects SciBX: Science–Business eXchange Copyright © 2008 Nature Publishing Group Kim, J. et al. Curr. Biol.; published online Jan. 17, 2008; doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.12.057 Contact: Jennifer L. Whistler, University of California, San Francisco, Calif. e-mail:   (...truncated)