The mechanisms through which opiates cause gastrointestinal dysfunction

阿片类药物是治疗严重疼痛的主要镇痛药。然而，由于肠道相关的副作用，它们在疼痛缓解中的使用可能受到极大的限制。这些包括慢性便秘，这是通过对肠道神经元的作用介导的。在这个提议中，我们将研究关键蛋白质的作用，称为β抑制蛋白，在阿片类药物诱导的便秘的产生。从这项研究中获得的知识将有助于开发具有更少胃肠道副作用的镇痛药。

Opiates are the mainstay analgesics for severe pain. However, their use in pain relief can be greatly limited due to gut-related side-effects. These include chronic constipation, which is mediated through actions on neurons in the intestine. In this proposal we will examine the role of key proteins, known as beta arrestins, in the generation of opiate-induced constipation. Knowledge derived from this study will facilitate the development of analgesics with fewer gastrointestinal side-effects.