Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Davidson College, United States.
Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Davidson College, United States.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022 Mar;134:104522. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104522. Epub 2022 Jan 4.
An abundance of data indicates there are sex differences in endogenous opioid peptides and opioid receptors, leading to functional differences in sensitivity to opioid receptor mediated behaviors between males and females. Many of these sex differences are mediated by the effects of gonadal hormones on the endogenous opioid system. Whereas much research has examined the role of ovarian hormones on opioid receptor mediated endpoints, comparatively less research has examined the role of androgens. This review describes what is currently known regarding the influence of androgens on opioid receptor mediated endpoints and how androgens may contribute to sex differences in these effects. The review also addresses the clinical implications of androgenic modulation of opioid receptor mediated behaviors and suggests future lines of research for preclinical and clinical investigators. We conclude that further investigation into androgenic modulation of opioid receptor mediated effects may lead to new options for addressing conditions such as chronic pain and substance use disorders.
大量数据表明,内源性阿片肽和阿片受体存在性别差异,导致男性和女性对阿片受体介导的行为的敏感性存在功能差异。这些性别差异中的许多是由性腺激素对内源性阿片系统的影响介导的。虽然许多研究已经检查了卵巢激素对阿片受体介导终点的作用,但相对较少的研究检查了雄激素的作用。这篇综述描述了目前已知的雄激素对阿片受体介导终点的影响,以及雄激素如何导致这些影响中的性别差异。该综述还讨论了雄激素调节阿片受体介导的行为的临床意义,并为临床前和临床研究人员提出了未来的研究方向。我们得出结论,进一步研究雄激素对阿片受体介导的作用的调节可能为解决慢性疼痛和物质使用障碍等疾病提供新的选择。