Chronic morphine exposure and its abstinence alters dendritic spine morphology and upregulates Shank1

Exposure to chronic drugs of abuse has been reported to produce significant changes in postsynaptic protein profile, dendritic spine morphology and synaptic transmission. In the present study we demonstrate alterations in dendritic spine morphology in the frontal cortex and nucleus accumbens of mice following chronic morphine treatment as well as during abstinence for two months. Such alterations were accompanied with significant upregulation of the postsynaptic protein Shank1 in synaptosomal enriched fractions. mRNA levels of Shank1 was also markedly increased during morphine treatment and during withdrawal. Studies of the different postsynaptic proteins at the protein and mRNA levels showed significant alterations in the morphine treated groups compared to that of saline treated controls. Taken together, these observations suggest that Shank1 may have an important role in the regulation of spine morphology induced by chronic morphine leading to addiction.     

Detection of Pentatrichomonas hominis DNA in biological specimens by PCR

AIM: To develop a sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Pentatrichomonas hominis in biological specimens. METHODS: Three primers, associated in two primer pairs, were designed to amplify a sequence from the SSU rRNA gene of P. hominis. The specificity of both primer pairs was established by testing DNA extractions of different Trichomonad species, protozoa, bacteria, yeasts, and human leucocytes. The analytical sensitivity was determined through testing dilutions of P. hominis trophozoites. The clinical specificity and applicability of the assay was evaluated on stool samples and self-administered vaginal swabs. CONCLUSIONS: A highly specific and sensitive PCR assay was developed. Both primer pairs performed equally well. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The presence of P. hominis in vaginal specimens has not been reported before.