Authors: Addison Smartt, Timothy Smartt
Mentors: Jeff Edwards
Insitution: Brigham Young University
Since the 1990's, the United States has experienced a crisis of opioid addiction and overdose. The effects of this are found close to home – with Utah being one of 22 states with an overdose rate higher than the national average. The effects of opioids on the ventral tegmental area (VTA), also known as the reward center of the brain, are a major contributor to opioid dependence. Drug dependence is created by molecular and cellular changes in this region of the brain. Therefore, we will examine changes in gene expression in the reward center in response to chronic morphine exposure. To do this, we will employ quantitative PCR on the VTA by first isolating mRNA, then reverse transcribing it into a cDNA library. Next, we created primer pairs for 26 different gene targets that were selected for their participation in the reward pathway. These targets include opioid receptors, glutamate receptors, cannabinoid receptors, and transcriptional regulators. Early results have identified mu and kappa opiate receptor expression downregulation after morphine exposure. Collectively, our data will provide understanding into how morphine exposure changes the expression of important gene targets in the VTA, providing insight into the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for opioid use disorder.