TY - JOUR AU - Gastard, Myriam PY - 2000 DA - 2000/12/06 TI - Delta-opioid receptor endocytosis in spinal cord after dermenkephalin activation JO - BMC Neuroscience SP - 1 VL - 1 IS - 1 AB - The delta(δ)-opioid receptors belong to the G protein-coupled receptors and in vitro studies have shown that δ-opioid receptors undergo an internalization process in response to agonist stimulation. The immediate consequence is the disappearance of receptors from the plasma membrane. This adaptation process reveals the cell's capacity to desensitize after a strong agonist stimulus. This process, if it occurs in vivo, could contribute to the tolerance phenomenon observed after opiate treatment. To study the mechanisms underlying regulation of the δ-opioid receptors in vivo, the effects of an application of the drug dermenkephalin, a potent and selective agonist of the δ-opioid receptor, were analysed in the rat spinal cord. SN - 1471-2202 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2202-1-1 DO - 10.1186/1471-2202-1-1 ID - Gastard2000 ER -