Endometriosis Is Associated With a Shift in MU Opioid and NMDA Receptor Expression in the Brain Periaqueductal Gray
Open accessAbstract
Studies have examined how endometriosis interacts with the nervous system, but little attention has been paid to opioidergic systems, which are relevant to pain signaling. We used the autotransplantation rat model of endometriosis and allowed to progress for 60 days. The brain was collected and examined for changes in endogenous opioid peptides, mu opioid receptors (MORs), and the N-methyl-d-aspartate subunit receptor (NR1) in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), since both of these receptors can regulate PAG activity. No changes in endogenous opioid peptides in met- and leu-enkephalin or β-endorphin levels were observed within the PAG. However, MOR immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in the ventral PAG in the endometriosis group. Endometriosis reduced by 20% the number of neuronal profiles expressing MOR and reduced by 40% the NR1 profiles. Our results suggest that endometriosis is associated with subtle variations in opioidergic and glutamatergic activity within the PAG, which may have implications for pain processing.
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Experimental induction of endometriosis in rats reduced opioid receptor expression by 20%, suggesting that the presence of endometriosis interferes with analgesia.
“Experimental induction of endometriosis in rats reduced opioid receptor expression by 20%, suggesting that the presence of endometriosis interferes with analgesia (Torres‐Reverón et al., 2016).”
From Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are diametric disorders (2021) · cites this paper as Torres‐Reverón et al., 2016
Cites
Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis: translational evidence of the relationship and implications
Stratton, P., & Berkley, K. J. (2011) · Human Reproduction Update · doi:10.1093/humupd/dmq050 · Cited by 442 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Currently, multiple approaches for the treatment of endometriosis-associated symptoms are being used, which span psychotherapy to drug treatments and surgical interventions.(11) Despite this, we still don’t have a clear understanding of whether CNS signaling circuits are altered due to endometriosis.”
MethodCentral changes associated with chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis
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“Endometriosis is commonly characterized by chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse (dyspareunia), and painful periods (dysmenorrhea).(2,3) Unfortunately, endometriosis negatively impacts the daily life activities of women who suffer from it, often more so than other chronic conditions.”
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“Previous studies have shown that endometriosis produces hyperalgesia.(10,52-54) Figure 5.”
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Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are diametric disorders
Dinsdale, N. L., & Crespi, B. J. (2021) · Evolutionary Applications · doi:10.1111/eva.13244 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Unveil the pain of endometriosis: from the perspective of the nervous system
Fan, P., & Li, T. (2022) · Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine · doi:10.1017/erm.2022.26 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
- Authors
- Torres-Reverón, A., Palermo, K., Hernández-López, A., Hernández, S., Cruz, M. L., Thompson, K. J., Flores, I., & Appleyard, C. B.
- Affiliations
- Ponce Health Sciences University (PR)
- Corresponding author
- Torres-Reverón, Annelyn
- Venue
- Reproductive Sciences
- Published
- 2016-09
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1158-1167
- ISSN
- 1933-7191 (ISSN-L)
- 1933-7205
- PMC
- PMC5933161
- OpenAlex
- W2340224778
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 3.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Reproductive Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R25GM082406)
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (G12MD007579, U54MD007579)
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (K07AT008027, R15AT006373)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Endometriosis Research and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- endometriosis, mu-opioid receptor, NMDA receptor, NR1 subunit, periaqueductal gray, endogenous opioids, enkephalin, beta-endorphin, pain processing, glutamatergic activity
- MeSH terms
- Animals, beta-Endorphin, Endometriosis, Enkephalin, Leucine, Enkephalin, Methionine, Female, Periaqueductal Gray, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, Opioid, mu, Rats
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