Neuroscience Research

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Neuroscience Research Contribution of the
Periaqueductal Gray to Morphine Tolerance
Mike Morgan Professor of Psychology Washington
State University Vancouver
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Four Goals for Todays Presentation

• Teach you about
• Neuroscience
• Neuroscience research
• Treatments for pain
• Neuroscience training

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What is Neuroscience?

• Also called
• Physiological Psychology
• Biological Psychology

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Is Neuroscience part of Psychology or Biology?

• Psychology?
• Biology?
• Neuroscience links biology to behavior

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Any questions about Neuroscience from Tuesday?

• Neurons?
• Anatomy?

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Research on Pain Modulation
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The Problem
Pain

• 57 of adults in the U.S. have experienced
  chronic or recurrent pain in the past year back
  pain (28), arthritis/joint pain (19),
  headaches/migraines (17), knee pain (17).
• 67 of pain sufferers expect to have to live with
  at least some pain for the rest of their life.
• Pain costs U.S. employers about 80 billion a
  year in sick days and lost productivity.

Sources Peter D. Hart Research Associates.
(2003). America Speaks Pain in America.
Research America. Work-related cost of pain in
the U.S. (2002). 10th World Congress on Pain.
Abstract 697.
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The Solution
Drugs

• Drug Treatments
• NSAIDS or Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
  (aspirin, ibuprofen, tylenol, etc.).
• Opiates (morphine, methadone, fentanyl, etc.).

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What are the problems with opiates?
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What are the problems with opiates?

• Side Effects

Drowsiness Dizziness Headache Sweating Itching Nau
sea Vomiting Decreased appetite Constipation
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What are the problems with opiates?

• Side Effects
• Addiction

uncontrolled, compulsive use
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What are the problems with opiates?

• Side Effects
• Addiction
• Tolerance

A diminished response to drug administration with
repeated exposure to that drug
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Periaqueductal Gray (PAG)
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1. Ventrolateral PAG
Periaqueductal Gray (PAG) Lateral Ventrolateral
Rostral Ventromedial Medulla (RVM)
Spinal Cord
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Procedure to Induce Tolerance to Morphine
Morphine Saline
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Tolerance to PAG Morphine MicroinjectionsCumulat
ive Dose Response Analysis
PAG Microinjections
Systemic to PAG cross-tolerance
Morgan, MM, Fossum, EN, Levine, CS, Ingram, SL.
(2006) Antinociceptive tolerance revealed by
cumulative intracranial microinjections of
morphine into the periaqueductal gray in the rat.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 85(1)214-9.
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PAG Neurons involved in Tolerance
RVM
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Intracellular Signaling Mechanisms
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Questions about research?
Step 2
Step 3
Step 1
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Four Goals for Todays Presentation

• Teach you about
• Neuroscience
• Neuroscience research
• Treatments for pain
• Neuroscience training