Department of Medical Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
Forensic Medicine Department, Mutah University, Karak 61710, Jordan.
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Aug 28;25(17):9314. doi: 10.3390/ijms25179314.
Opioids have been utilized for both medical and recreational purposes since their discovery. Primarily recognized for their analgesic properties, they are also associated with the development of tolerance and dependence, contributing to a significant public health concern worldwide. Sex differences in opioid use disorder reveal that while men historically exhibit higher rates of abuse, women may develop dependence more quickly and are more susceptible to the addictive nature of opioids. This narrative review explores sex differences in opioid response in both clinical and experimental models, focusing on opioid receptor mechanisms, pain modulation, and hormonal influences. Additionally, it discusses the complexities of opioid addiction and withdrawal, highlighting sex-specific responses and the role of opioid replacement therapies. Diverse experimental outcomes, together with observational data, underscore the need for further research into sex-specific opioid biological mechanisms in a wider context, including demographic, cultural, and health-related factors. A comprehensive understanding of these complexities holds the potential to enhance personalized opioid therapies.
阿片类药物自发现以来，一直被用于医疗和娱乐目的。它们主要因其止痛特性而被认可，但也与耐受和依赖的发展有关，这是全球范围内一个重大的公共卫生关注问题。阿片类药物使用障碍的性别差异表明，虽然男性历史上表现出更高的滥用率，但女性可能更快地产生依赖，并且更容易受到阿片类药物成瘾性的影响。本叙述性综述探讨了临床和实验模型中阿片类药物反应的性别差异，重点关注阿片受体机制、疼痛调节和激素影响。此外，它还讨论了阿片类药物成瘾和戒断的复杂性，强调了性别特异性反应和阿片类药物替代疗法的作用。不同的实验结果以及观察性数据强调了需要进一步研究更广泛背景下的性别特异性阿片类生物机制，包括人口统计学、文化和与健康相关的因素。全面了解这些复杂性有可能增强个性化阿片类药物治疗。
