In vivo photopharmacology with a caged mu opioid receptor agonist drives rapid changes in behavior

Nat Methods. 2023 May;20(5):682-685. doi: 10.1038/s41592-023-01819-w. Epub 2023 Mar 27.

Abstract

Photoactivatable drugs and peptides can drive quantitative studies into receptor signaling with high spatiotemporal precision, yet few are compatible with behavioral studies in mammals. We developed CNV-Y-DAMGO-a caged derivative of the mu opioid receptor-selective peptide agonist DAMGO. Photoactivation in the mouse ventral tegmental area produced an opioid-dependent increase in locomotion within seconds of illumination. These results demonstrate the power of in vivo photopharmacology for dynamic studies into animal behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid* / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / pharmacology
  • Mammals
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu* / agonists
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu* / physiology
  • Ventral Tegmental Area / physiology

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-