Mu opioid receptors (MORs) mediate biological effects of oxycodone, including their analgesic and euphoric properties. To assess the effect of oxycodone on neuronal communication, we used non-invasive mouse fMRI and tested oxycodone effects in both wild-type and MOR-knockout mice in order to extract MOR-dependent effects. Analysis was performed 2 to 7 minutes after drug administration, a time where BOLD activation was minimal in knockout animals. Here, we show that oxycodone reduces functional activity of the Nucleus Accumbens seed with several brain regions, establishing a first receptor-mediated FC connectivity signature of a MOR agonist.
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