Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of s.c. injected recombinant human growth hormone (GH) on the expression of the gene transcript of N -methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits type 1 (NR1), type 2A (NR2A), and type 2B (NR2B) in the male rat hippocampus. The GH-induced effects on the expression of hippocampal gene transcripts of GH receptor (GHR) and GH-binding protein were also examined. Male Sprague–Dawley rats, kept in four groups of two different ages, was treated with the hormone or saline during 10 days before decapitation and tissue dissection. Brain tissues collected were analyzed for mRNA content by using the Northern blot technique. The results indicated that in adult young rats (11 weeks of age) the hormone elicited a decrease in the mRNA expression of NR1 but an increase in that of the NR2B subunit. In elderly adult rats (57–67 weeks of age) GH induced an increase in the expression of the hippocampal message for NR1 and NR2A. Meanwhile, the hormone induced a significant up-regulation of the GHR transcript in hippocampus of adult young rats but not in elderly adult rats. It was further found that a significant positive correlation exists between the level of GHR mRNA and the expression of the NR2B subunit transcript in adult young rats. The GH-induced increase in the expression of hippocampal mRNA for the NR2B subunit is compatible with a previously observed memory promoting effect seen for the hormone, because overexpression of this N -methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit is shown to enhance cognitive capabilities.

Background: Opioids are associated with wide inter-individual variability in the analgesic response and a narrow therapeutic index. This may be partly explained by the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding molecular entities involved in opioid metabolism and receptor activation. This paper describes the investigation of SNPs in three genes that have a functional impact on the opioid response: OPRM1, which codes for the μ-opioid receptor; ABCB1 for the ATP-binding cassette B1 transporter enzyme; and the calcium channel complex subunit CACNA2D2. The genotyping was combined with an analysis of plasma levels of the opioid peptide β-endorphin in 80 well-defined patients with chronic low back pain scheduled for spinal fusion surgery, and with differential sensitivity to the opioid analgesic remifentanil. This patient group was compared with 56 healthy controls.Results: The plasma β-endorphin levels were significantly higher in controls than in pain patients.A higher incidence of opioid-related side effects and sex differences was found in patients with the minor allele of the ABCB1 gene. Further, a correlation between increased opioid sensitivity and the major CACNA2D2 allele was confirmed. A tendency of a relationship between opioid sensitivity and the minor allele of OPRM1 was also found.Conclusions: Although the sample cohort in this study was limited to 80 patients it appears that it was possible to observe significant correlations between polymorphism in relevant genes and various items related to pain sensitivity and opioid response. Of particular interest is the new finding of a correlation between increased opioid sensitivity and the major CACNA2D2 allele. These observations may open for improved strategies in the clinical treatment of chronic pain with opioids.

Background: The inappropriate use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) was originally a problem among athletes but AAS are now often used in nonsport situations and by patients attending regular addiction clinics. The aim of this study was to improve understanding of the development of multiple drug use in patients seeking treatment at an addiction clinic for AAS-related problems. Methods: We interviewed six patients (four men and two women) with experience of AAS use who were attending an addiction clinic for what they believed were AAS-related problems. The patients were interviewed in-depth about their life stories, with special emphasis on social background, substance use, the development of total drug use and subjective experienced psychological and physical side effects. Results: There was significant variation in the development of drug use in relation to social background, onset of drug use, relationship to AAS use and experience of AAS effects. All patients had initially experienced positive effects from AAS but, over time, the negative experiences had outweighed the positive effects. All patients were dedicated to excess training and took AAS in combination with gym training, indicating that the use of these drugs is closely related to this form of training. Use of multiple drugs was common either in parallel with AAS use or serially. Conclusion: The study shows the importance of understanding how AAS use can develop either with or without the concomitant use of other drugs of abuse. The use of AAS can, however, progress to the use of other drugs. The study also indicates the importance of obtaining accurate, comprehensive information about the development of AAS use in designing treatment programmes and prevention strategies in this area.