Arch Gen Psychiat
-
Increased density of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins in the postmortem brains of heroin addicts.
To directly evaluate the guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein subunits alpha, beta, and gamma, which are involved in the signal transduction of opioid receptors, in the postmortem brains of heroin addicts who had died of an opiate overdose. ⋯ Alterations in the density of specific Gi and Go protein subunits that are coupled to mu-opioid and other opioid receptors may be of clinical relevance in opiate tolerance, dependence, and abstinence syndrome.