Effects of morphine and NeuroAid on the expression levels of GluN2A and GluN3A in the hippocampus and striatum of rats

OBJECTIVE(S): NMDA glutamatergic receptors are heteromeric receptors with various subunits. GluN2A and GluN3A subunits specify the functional heterogeneity of NMDA receptors. These subunits play a key role in the induction of LTP and synaptic plasticity. Note that, the function of NMDA subunits has interaction with the mechanism of morphine. On the other hand, NeuroAid is a Chinese traditional medicine with neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of morphine and NeuroAid on expression levels of GluN2A and GluN3A in the hippocampus and striatum of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Morphine sulfate (increasing doses) and NeuroAid (2.5 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally. Real-time PCR was used to assess gene expression. RESULTS: The results showed that morphine increased the expression of GluN2A in the hippocampus and striatum, while NeuroAid increased the expression of both genes in the hippocampus and decreased the expression of GluN3A in the striatum. NeuroAid increased the expression of GluN3A in the hippocampus and GluN2A in the striatum of morphine-addicted rats. CONCLUSION: NeuroAid may have interaction with the effect of morphine on glutamatergic neurotransmission; however, this study is innovative and novel, thus, further studies are needed to better understand the effect of NeuroAid and morphine on hippocampal and striatal glutamatergic neurotransmission.