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New research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health suggests that our understanding of how heroin affects the brain should be changed. A new report shows that heroin is metabolised to 6-MAM which then crosses the blood-brain barrier to cause the intoxicating effects that arise shortly after heroin administration.
When heroin is injected, it is metabolised to morphine in the brain. Until now, the prevailing perception has been that morphine causes the rush and heroin addiction is thus a form of morphine addiction. Morphine stimulates the µ-opioid receptors in the brain. When these receptors are affected in certain areas of the brain it leads to a sense of euphoria - the "rush" - and further to the development of addiction.
Euphoria caused by 6-MAM
Research at the Department of Drug Abuse Research at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, has previously questioned the notion that heroin addiction is caused by morphine. A new report by Fernando Boix and colleagues confirms that it is not primarily morphine, but the metabolite 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), that provides the euphoria and intoxication after heroin intake. It opens up new avenues in the treatment of addiction.
- What happens when heroin is injected?
"Heroin is converted rapidly to 6-MAM in the blood. The concentration becomes high and it quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier. In the brain, 6-MAM binds to µ-opioid receptors and provides the rush. In addition, some 6-MAM is metabolised to morphine. Morphine also binds to µ-opioid receptors, but this only gives a supplementary effect. Essentially it is 6-MAM that produces the effects," said Fernando Boix.
. . .
These new results mean that the international scientific community should review their understanding on how heroin affects the brain. To date, researchers have assumed that heroin is converted to morphine.
full: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20...nderstanding-of-how-heroin-affects-brain.aspx
When heroin is injected, it is metabolised to morphine in the brain. Until now, the prevailing perception has been that morphine causes the rush and heroin addiction is thus a form of morphine addiction. Morphine stimulates the µ-opioid receptors in the brain. When these receptors are affected in certain areas of the brain it leads to a sense of euphoria - the "rush" - and further to the development of addiction.
Euphoria caused by 6-MAM
Research at the Department of Drug Abuse Research at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, has previously questioned the notion that heroin addiction is caused by morphine. A new report by Fernando Boix and colleagues confirms that it is not primarily morphine, but the metabolite 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), that provides the euphoria and intoxication after heroin intake. It opens up new avenues in the treatment of addiction.
- What happens when heroin is injected?
"Heroin is converted rapidly to 6-MAM in the blood. The concentration becomes high and it quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier. In the brain, 6-MAM binds to µ-opioid receptors and provides the rush. In addition, some 6-MAM is metabolised to morphine. Morphine also binds to µ-opioid receptors, but this only gives a supplementary effect. Essentially it is 6-MAM that produces the effects," said Fernando Boix.
. . .
These new results mean that the international scientific community should review their understanding on how heroin affects the brain. To date, researchers have assumed that heroin is converted to morphine.
full: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20...nderstanding-of-how-heroin-affects-brain.aspx