INTRODUÇÃO: A utilização das técnicas minimamente invasivas vem se difundindo principalmente após o desenvolvimento da técnica robótica, principalmente em patologias com alta incidência como a neoplasia da próstata. Apesar da cirurgia minimamente invasiva aparentemente proporcionar menor dor no pós-operatório, ainda assim alguns pacientes necessitam opióides que possuem efeitos colaterais indesejáveis. O uso de medicações adjuvantes durante o intraoperatório, como a Dexmedetomidina (DEX) pode diminuir o seu uso pelo efeito poupador de opióides e analgésico. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o impacto do uso da DEX em pacientes submetidos a prostatectomia radical robótica. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo em cem pacientes submetidos a prostatectomia radical robótica. Quarenta e oito pacientes não utilizaram DEX, e 52 pacientes receberam dexmedetomidina na dose de 0,3 a 0,7mcg/kg/h no intraoperatório e desligado meia hora antes do final do procedimento. Durante o procedimento e no pós-operatório receberam analgésico opióide e não opióide sob prescrição ou a critério do anestesiologista. O consumo de medicação opióide e não opióide e escores de dor através do consumo de analgésicos foram avaliados durante a RPA, POI e 1PO, dividindo os pacientes em quatro grupos (sem DEX, nem Morfina; somente DEX; DEX com morfina; Morfina apenas). RESULTADOS: Nossos resultados demonstraram que a utilização de DEX no intra-operatório levou a um aumento da utilização de morfina na RPA, comparado aos grupos (28,1%, 38,5%, 25% e 15,4%, necessitaram de mais do que 5 mg de morfina na RPA) (p=0,135). Os pacientes que tomaram apenas DEX também demonstraram mais dor forte (84,6%) e menos pacientes sem dor (15,4%) (p=0,001). A DEX foi responsável pela diminuição da utilização de analgésico não opioide na RPA do grupo onde somente a DEX foi utilizada e nenhum paciente necessitou de analgésico não opioide e do grupo onde houve associação de DEX e morfina (2,8%), sendo que nos outros 2 grupos 12,5% necessitaram (p=0,083) O grupo que recebeu DEX e morfina foi o que menos recebeu morfina na RPA (59% não recebeu nenhuma morfina) (p=0,135). No POI e no 1PO, 100% dos pacientes não receberam nenhuma morfina (p=0,555). Este último grupo de pacientes também apresentou menor dor, sendo que 48,7% não apresentou dor na RPA e 51,3% na avaliação durante o POI (p=0,001). A combinação das duas drogas levou a uma impressionante redução da dor no POI (10,3%), de aproximadamente 8 vezes menos dor forte do que no grupo sem utilização de nenhuma droga (81,3%) (p=0,000). CONCLUSÃO: Portanto a utilização da DEX durante o intra-operatório não mostrou resultado favorável na diminuição do consumo de morfina, na diminuição da dor dos pacientes submetidos a prostatectomia radical robótica, mas, quando usamos morfina associado a morfina houve uma melhora nos resultados da dor e diminuição significativa de consumo de morfina no período pós-operatório / Introduction: Minimally invasive techniques are spreading in high incidence diseases like prostate cancer. Patients undergoing minimally invasive procedures seem to have a better pain control but many still require opioid analgesia that can induce undesirable side effects. The use of adjuvant agents as DEX intraoperatively can be desirable for their analgesic and opioid sparing effect. Purpose: Evaluate the impact of DEX use in patients undergoing robotic radical prostatectomy. Methods: The present retrospective study included 100 patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. Forty-eight patients did not receive DEX was the control group and fifty-two received DEX infusion at a rate of 0,3-0,7mcg/kg/h and discontinued 30 minutes before the end of the procedure. Patients received opioid and non-opioid analgesia under prescription and anesthesiologist discretion. Opioid and non-opioid analgesia consumption and pain scores (measured by opioid and non-opioid analgesia consumption) were collected on postoperative period, immediate postoperative period and first postoperative period. Results: Our results demonstrated that compared with the groups(28,1%, 38,5%,25% e 15,4% had more than 5mg of morphine on postoperative care unit), patients that received DEX intraoperatively, required higher doses of morphine on postoperative care unit.The DEX group presented more patients with severe pain (84,6%) and fewer without pain(15,4%).The use of DEX intraoperatively lead to a reduction of non-opioid use in postanesthesia care unit and neither patients had non opioid analgesia , when morphine is associated to DEX 2,8% received, and with the other two groups 12,5% (p=0,083). The DEX and morphine received less morphine than the other groups on postanesthesia care unit (59% received any morphine)(p=0,135).On immediate postoperative period and first postoperative period , 100% received any morphine(p=0,555), this group had more patients with lesser pain, 48,7% had no pain on postanesthesia care unit e 51,3% on immediate postoperative period. The combination of DEX and morphine lead to an impressive reduction of pain on immediate postoperative period(10,3%),patients had about 8 times less severe pain than the group that did not receive neither morphine or DEX(81,3%)(p=0,000).Conclusion: The use of DEX infusion was not suitable regarding morphine spare and reduction of pain of the patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy. An association between DEX and Morphine seems to be the best option to relieve post-op pain and decrease morphine usage

A dependência de drogas é um transtorno multifatorial complexo que se desenvolve em uma minoria de indivíduos que fazem uso dessas substâncias. Memórias associativas entre a droga e o contexto funcionam como gatilho para disparar comportamentos não adaptativos de busca e consumo, além de recaídas após períodos de abstinência. Subjacentes a essas mudanças comportamentais, existem modificações nas subunidades de receptores glutamatérgicos do tipo AMPA em estruturas envolvidas com memória (Hipocampo) e recompensa (Núcleo Accumbens). Por isso, estratégias que enfraqueçam a associação do contexto com a droga e que aprofundem o conhecimento dos circuitos envolvidos nesses comportamentos são de extrema relevância terapêutica. A memória quando evocada pode passar por dois processos pós-evocação: a extinção, em que uma nova memória é formada inibindo uma prévia associação, e a reconsolidação, em que a memória original entra em um estado lábil e suscetível a modificações, em que é possível enfraquecê-la através da inibição de sua reconsolidação. A reconsolidação da memória mostra-se uma estratégica mais eficaz e duradoura em relação à extinção, já que a memória original é modificada. Como modelo animal para o estudo da memória na dependência de drogas, o condicionamento de preferência por local (CPL) é bastante utilizado e sabe-se que é possível enfraquecer a preferência através do bloqueio da reconsolidação. Porém, são escassos os estudos que investigaram a existência da reconsolidação no modelo de sensibilização locomotora, que parece ocorrer, na maioria dos casos, em condição dependente do contexto de aquisição do comportamento, embora existam exemplos que demonstrem sua independência. As questões a serem respondidas neste trabalho são (a) se é possível reverter conjuntamente a preferência por local e a sensibilização locomotora à morfina (5 mg/kg) em ratos Wistar adultos machos, inibindo-se a síntese proteica com cicloheximida (CHX) i.p. logo após uma sessão de reativação contextual da memória no CPL, (b) se a reversão dos comportamentos reflete alterações (já descritas por outros autores) em GluA1, GluA1p (Ser845) e GluA2, no Hipocampo dorsal (HPCd) e no Núcleo Accumbens (NAc), e (c) se o mesmo tratamento em ambas estruturas reverte os dois parâmetros avaliados – comportamental e neuroquímico – de forma diferente ou igual. Nossos resultados mostraram ser possível reverter a preferência por local e a sensibilização locomotora por inibição sistêmica de síntese proteica, e que o condicionamento com exposição à morfina induz alterações nas subunidades analisadas de AMPA, conforme verificado no HPCd e NAc, embora a CHX não tenha produzido um efeito tão bem definido. Os animais que receberam infusões centrais no HPCd e NAc (central) não exibiram preferência por local, nem sensibilização. Em conjunto, nossos resultados mostraram, pela primeira vez em um mesmo desenho experimental, que é possível reverter diferentes aspectos da memória de recompensa (preferência e sensibilização) por meio do bloqueio da reconsolidação. / Drug addiction is a complex and multifactorial disorder that develops in a few people who use these substances. Associative memories between the drug and context of use act as a trigger for maladaptive behavior such as drug seeking and drug use, in addition to relapse after an extended period of withdrawal. Underlying these behavioral changes are modifications in glutamatergic reception (AMPA) in structures involved with memory (Hippocampus) and reward (Nucleus Accumbens). Therefore, strategies that weaken the drug and context association and deepen knowledge of circuits involved in these behaviors are extremely relevant therapeutically. When retrieved, a memory can undergo two distinct processes post-retrieval: extinction, in which a new memory inhibiting a previous association is generated, and reconsolidation, in which the original memory can enter a labile state and is susceptible to modifications, when it can be weakened by inhibition of its reconsolidation. Reconsolidation of memory has been shown to be a more effective and long lasting strategy in relation to extinction, since the original memory is modified. An animal model for studying drug addiction, conditioned place preference (CPP) is largely used and it is well known that it is possible to weaken preference by disrupting reconsolidation. However, there are few studies that investigate the existence of reconsolidation in a locomotor sensitization paradigm, which seems to occur in a condition dependent on context of acquisition, although some works report its independence. The questions answered in this work were (a) if it is possible to reverse both, context preference and locomotor sensitization to morphine (5mg/kg) by protein synthesis inhibition (CHX) after a contextual memory reactivation session in CPP, (b) if the disruption of behaviors reflects a reversal of changes of GluA1, GluA1p (Ser845) e GluA2 in dorsal Hippocampus (dHPC) and Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) and (c) if the same treatment in these structures differentially reverts the two parameters assessed. Our results indicate that it is possible to revert context preference and locomotor sensitization via systemic disruption of protein synthesis and that morphine conditioning induces changes in AMPA subunits in dHPC and NAc, although CHX did not have an evident effect on molecular reversal. Animals cannulated in dHPC and NAc core did not induce preference or sensitization. Taken together, our results demonstrated, for the first time, using the same experimental design that is possible to revert different aspects of reward memory (preference and sensitization) by disrupting the reconsolidation process.

Pesquisas com drogas de abuso têm mostrado consistentemente que a apresentação de estímulos ambientais associados ao uso destas substâncias pode induzir comportamentos de busca e autoadministração das mesmas. Existe a hipótese de que o controle que estímulos ambientais adquirem sobre comportamentos de autoadministração e busca por drogas de abuso poderia ser influenciado tanto pela forma de administração da droga, autoadministração (administração ativa) ou heteroadministração (administração passiva), quanto pela contingência (operante ou respondente) em que a droga foi associada com tais estímulos. Foram formados trios compostos por um sujeito de cada grupo (CONT, ACOP e VEÍC) e realizados dois experimentos. Inicialmente os sujeitos de cada trio foram acoplados por meio de caixas experimentais separadas e expostos a tentativas discretas de apresentação dos estímulos luminosos, S1 e S2, simultaneamente. Como consequência do girar a roda operante na presença de S1 por um integrante do grupo CONT, este recebia uma infusão endovenosa de morfina (0,75 mg/kg), e simultaneamente os animais acoplados no trio recebiam uma infusão de morfina na mesma dose (grupo ACOP) ou de veículo (grupo VEÍC). Posteriormente, os sujeitos de todos os grupos foram treinados a pressionar uma barra por infusões endovenosas de morfina, sem contingência discriminativa programada alguma. Para esta fase, no experimento 1, S2 esteve presente durante as sessões experimentais, porém no experimento 2, nenhum S foi apresentado. Finalmente, os estímulos S1 e S2 foram apresentados em tentativas discretas, em condições de extinção. Os resultados mostram que, durante a extinção, o desempenho dos animais do grupo CONT, mas não os dos grupos ACOP e VEÍC, foi condizente com o treino recebido inicialmente (com 80% ou mais de respostas na barra em presença de S1), indicando que foi estabelecido controle discriminativo sobre a autoadministração de morfina no treino sob a contingência operante, mas não sob a respondente. Estes resultados sugerem que comportamentos de autoadministração e busca por drogas de abuso são influenciados tanto pela forma de administração da droga, quanto pelo tipo de contingência em que uma droga é associada com estímulos ambientais / Drug abuse research has consistently shown that presentation of a drug associated with environmental stimuli can induce drug-seeking and drug-administration behaviors. It has been hypothesized that stimuli control over drug-seeking and self-administration behaviors could be influenced by drug administrations nature, self-administration (active administration) or hetero-administration (passive administration), and also influenced by the drug-stimuli association contingency (operant or respondent). Animals were exposed to right jugular vein catheterization procedure. Groups Contingent (C), Yoked (Y) and Toked Saline (YS) were formed randomly after recovery. Yoked triads were formed with one subject from each group and two experiments were executed. Initially a discriminative training (light stimuli S1 and S2 discrete trials) was presented to triads. Each time C S group member turned an instrumental wheel in presence of S1, simultaneously, an intravenous morphine infusion (0.75 mg/kg) were administrated to that subject and yoked Y group member, as well as an intravenous saline infusion was administrated to yoked YS group member, in every triad. Afterward all subjects were individually trained to lever-press for an intravenous morphine infusion with no discrimination contingency programed. In this phase, S2 was presented through sessions in Experiment 1, while in Experiment 2 no S were presented. After achieving response stability, subjects were exposed to extinction sessions. Stimuli S1 and S2 discrete trials were presented but no consequences were programed for bar-press responses. Results show that only C groups performance was consistent with the previously received discriminative training (80% or more of bar-press responses in S1 presence) during extinction sessions, indicating that an operant training, but not a respondent training, successfully established morphine self-administration discriminative control. These results suggest that self-administration behaviors are in fact influenced by drugs administration nature and also by the drug-stimuli association contingency

INTRODUÇÃO: Existem poucas evidências de benefícios da analgesia regional na disfunção respiratória observada no pós-operatório (PO) de cirurgia cardíaca. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar os efeitos da morfina intratecal sobre a função respiratória, a analgesia, o consumo de morfina e seus níveis plasmáticos no PO de pacientes submetidos à anestesia geral para revascularização do miocárdio (RM). MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 42 pacientes submetidos à RM com circulação extracorpórea e randomizados para receberem anestesia geral associada ou não a morfina intratecal na dose de 400 g (grupo controle, n=22 e grupo morfina, n=20). A anestesia geral foi padronizada com sufentanil e isoflurano e no PO imediato, instalou-se dispositivo de analgesia controlada pelo paciente, com bolus de 1 mg, em livre demanda e dipirona se necessário. Com espirômetro digital, avaliou-se a capacidade vital forçada (CVF), o volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1), a relação VEF1/CVF e, pela análise da gasometria artérial, calculou-se a relação PaO2/FIO2 no pré-operatório, primeiro e segundo dias de PO. A intensidade da dor, avaliada com escala visual numérica (0-10), o número de solicitações e o consumo de morfina venosa, assim como seus níveis plasmáticos, foram avaliados até 36 horas de PO. A análise estatística consistiu de análise de variância para medidas repetidas e teste de Mann-Whitney, considerando-se significativo p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Em ambos os grupos houve redução da CVF (grupo controle=1,45 L e 1,38 L, grupo morfina= 1,18 L e 1,26 L no primeiro e segundo dias de PO, respectivamente), sem diferença entre os mesmos (p=0,06). Não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos no VEF1 (p=0,085), nas relações VEF1/CVF (p=0,68) e PaO2/FiO2 (p=0,08) nos tempos avaliados. O grupo morfina apresentou valores significativamente menores de dor no repouso e inspiração profunda e, principalmente, durante a tosse após 18 horas (grupo controle=4,73 e grupo morfina=1,80, p=0,001), 24 horas (grupo controle=4,41 e grupo morfina=1,40, p=0,022) e 36 horas (grupo controle=3,09 e grupo morfina=1,55, p=0,015) de PO. Observou-se redução do consumo cumulativo de morfina venosa após 18 horas (grupo controle=20,14 mg e grupo morfina=14,10 mg, p=0,037) e 24 horas de PO (grupo controle= 27,8 mg e grupo morfina= 13,55 mg, p=0,028). Após 24 horas de PO, o grupo que recebeu opióide intratecal apresentou menores níveis plasmáticos de morfina (grupo controle=16,41 ng/mL e grupo morfina=4,08 ng/mL, p=0,029). CONCLUSÕES: O efeito central da morfina intratecal não minimizou a disfunção respiratória mas promoveu redução da intensidade da dor, com diminuição do consumo venoso e menores níveis plasmáticos de morfina no PO de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de RM. / BACKGROUNDS: Few evidence exists on beneficial effects of intrathecal analgesia in lung dysfunction observed in postoperative (PO) of cardiac surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of intrathecal morphine on pulmonary function, analgesia, morphine consumption and plasma morphine levels in PO of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). METHODS: Were studied 42 patients undergoing on-pump CABG randomized (control group, n=22 and morphine group, n=20) to receive general anesthesia with or not 400 g of intrathecal morphine. Anesthesia was standardized and in immediate PO, patients received a patient controlled-analgesia pump, 1 mg bolus of morphine, free demand and dipirone if necessary. Forced vital capacity (CVF), expiratory forced volume in first second (EFV1) and EFV1/FVC ratio were measured using spirometry and arterial blood samples obtained preoperatively, in first and second PO days. Intensity of pain, evaluated using visual numeric scale (0-10), morphine solicitation and consumption and plasma morphine levels were evaluated until 36 hours of PO. Statistical analysis was done with repeated measures analysis of variance and Mann-Whiney test (*p<0.05). RESULTS: Both groups had reduction of FVC in PO (control group=1.45 L and 1.38 L, and morphine group=1.18 L and 1.26 L, respectively in first and second PO (p= 0.06) without differences between them. There were no differences in EFV1 (p=0.085), VEF1/CVF (p=0.68) and PaO2/FiO2 ratio between groups (p=0.08). In morphine group was observed reduction in intensity of pain at rest and profound inspiration but most significatively at cough after 18 hours PO (control group=4.73 and morphine group=1.80, p=0.001), 24 hours (control group=4.41 and morphine group=1.40, p=0.022) and 36 hours (control group=3.09 and morphine group=1.55, p=0.015). Was observed reduction in morphine consumption after 18 hours PO (control group=20.14 mg and morphine group=14.10 mg, p=0.037) and after 24 hours (control group=27.8 mg and morphine group= 13.55, p=0.028). After 24 hours of PO, morphine group has reduced plasma morphine levels (control group=16,41 ng/mL and morphine group=4.08 ng/mL, p=0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Central neuraxial effect of morphine did not reduced postoperative pulmonary dysfunction but promoted better postoperative analgesia, reducing pain scores, venous morphine consumption and lower plasma morphine levels in CABG.

Approximately 1 in 6 infants are born prematurely each year. Typically, these infants spend 25 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where they experience 10-18 painful and inflammatory procedures each day. Remarkably, pre-emptive analgesics and/or anesthesia are administered less than 30% of the time. Unalleviated pain during the perinatal period is associated with permanent decreases in pain sensitivity, blunted cortisol responses and high rates of neuropsychiatric disorders. To date, the mechanism(s) by which these long-term changes in stress and pain behavior occur, and whether such alterations can be prevented by appropriate analgesia at the time of injury, remains unclear. We have previously reported in rats that inflammation experienced on the day of birth permanently upregulates central opioid tone, resulting in a significant reduction in adult pain sensitivity. However, the impact on early life pain on anxiety- and stress-related behavior and HPA axis regulation is not known. Therefore the goal of this dissertation was to determine the long-term impact of a single neonatal inflammatory pain experience on adult anxiety- and stress-related responses. Neuroanatomical changes in stress-associated neurocircuits were also examined. As the endogenous pain control system and HPA axis are in a state of exaggerated developmental plasticity early in postnatal life, and these systems work in concert to respond to noxious or aversive stimuli, this dissertation research aimed to answer the following questions: (1) Does neonatal injury produce deficits in adult stress-related behavior and alter stress-related neuroanatomy through an opioid-dependent mechanism? (2) Does neonatal injury alter receptor systems regulating the activation and termination of the stress response in adulthood? (3) Are stress- and pain-related neurotransmitters altered within the first week following early life pain? (4) Is early activation of the pain system necessary for the long-term changes in anxiety- and stress-related behavior? Together these studies demonstrate the degree, severity and preventability of the long-term deficits in stress responding associated with a single painful experience early in life. The goal of this research is to promote change in the treatment of infant pain in the NICU to reduce long-term sensory and mental health complications associated with prematurity.

Cholinergic inputs from mesopontine tegmentum activate midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons via M5 muscarinic receptors. The M5 receptor is important for mesopontine stimulation-induced accumbal or striatal DA efflux, brain stimulation reward or morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). M5 receptor knockout (KO) mice show 40-50% less morphine-induced locomotion. Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT) lesions in rodents block morphine CPP, but are ineffective after 18 hours food deprivation, opiate dependence, or intra-VTA BDNF. Based on these findings, we investigated whether acute food deprivation or intra-VTA BDNF alters morphine-induced locomotion (3 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) in C57BL/6 M5 KO mice. Non-deprived M5 KOs showed reduced morphine-induced locomotion, suggesting M5 receptors partly mediate morphine-induced locomotion. Morphine-induced locomotion was reversed in food-deprived mice, suggesting the stimulant effects of morphine were altered to bypass the PPT. Unexpectedly, intra-VTA BDNF infusions were ineffective in altering morphine-induced locomotion. Additionally, M5 KOs receiving intra-VTA saline showed no deficits in morphine-induced locomotion.

Cholinergic inputs from mesopontine tegmentum activate midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons via M5 muscarinic receptors. The M5 receptor is important for mesopontine stimulation-induced accumbal or striatal DA efflux, brain stimulation reward or morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). M5 receptor knockout (KO) mice show 40-50% less morphine-induced locomotion. Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT) lesions in rodents block morphine CPP, but are ineffective after 18 hours food deprivation, opiate dependence, or intra-VTA BDNF. Based on these findings, we investigated whether acute food deprivation or intra-VTA BDNF alters morphine-induced locomotion (3 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) in C57BL/6 M5 KO mice. Non-deprived M5 KOs showed reduced morphine-induced locomotion, suggesting M5 receptors partly mediate morphine-induced locomotion. Morphine-induced locomotion was reversed in food-deprived mice, suggesting the stimulant effects of morphine were altered to bypass the PPT. Unexpectedly, intra-VTA BDNF infusions were ineffective in altering morphine-induced locomotion. Additionally, M5 KOs receiving intra-VTA saline showed no deficits in morphine-induced locomotion.

Approximately 1 in 6 infants are born prematurely each year. Typically, these infants spend 25 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where they experience 10-18 painful and inflammatory procedures each day. Remarkably, pre-emptive analgesics and/or anesthesia are administered less than 30% of the time. Unalleviated pain during the perinatal period is associated with permanent decreases in pain sensitivity, blunted cortisol responses and high rates of neuropsychiatric disorders. To date, the mechanism(s) by which these long-term changes in stress and pain behavior occur, and whether such alterations can be prevented by appropriate analgesia at the time of injury, remains unclear. We have previously reported in rats that inflammation experienced on the day of birth permanently upregulates central opioid tone, resulting in a significant reduction in adult pain sensitivity. However, the impact on early life pain on anxiety- and stress-related behavior and HPA axis regulation is not known. Therefore the goal of this dissertation was to determine the long-term impact of a single neonatal inflammatory pain experience on adult anxiety- and stress-related responses. Neuroanatomical changes in stress-associated neurocircuits were also examined. As the endogenous pain control system and HPA axis are in a state of exaggerated developmental plasticity early in postnatal life, and these systems work in concert to respond to noxious or aversive stimuli, this dissertation research aimed to answer the following questions: (1) Does neonatal injury produce deficits in adult stress-related behavior and alter stress-related neuroanatomy through an opioid-dependent mechanism? (2) Does neonatal injury alter receptor systems regulating the activation and termination of the stress response in adulthood? (3) Are stress- and pain-related neurotransmitters altered within the first week following early life pain? (4) Is early activation of the pain system necessary for the long-term changes in anxiety- and stress-related behavior? Together these studies demonstrate the degree, severity and preventability of the long-term deficits in stress responding associated with a single painful experience early in life. The goal of this research is to promote change in the treatment of infant pain in the NICU to reduce long-term sensory and mental health complications associated with prematurity.

Recent evidence suggesting that the endogenous cannabinoid (ECB) system can be selectively manipulated to facilitate or impair the extinction of learned behaviours — specifically regarding drug-induced aversive memories — has important consequences for research on opiate withdrawal and abstinence. Data presented here support and expand previous findings that the ECB system has an important function in the extinction of aversively motivated behaviors and is mediated by i) an increase in available endogenous CB1 receptor agonists, primarily anandamide, and ii) the exogenous CB1 receptor agonist Δ9-THC, in a manner that is dependent upon both the dose and route of administration. Experiments demonstrated that the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor, URB597, which blocks deactivation of endogenous CB1 ligands, such as anandamide, significantly facilitated extinction of naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal-induced conditioned cue aversion, whereas the CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist SR141716 significantly impaired extinction. Several experiments demonstrated that neither the CB1 antagonist AM251 nor the FAAH inhibitor URB597 had any effect on extinction learning for morphine-induced conditioned cue preference. A method was developed for analysing cannabinoid levels in blood by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to compare bioavailable levels of Δ9-THC and its primary psychoactive metabolite. Experiments were designed to meet three primary objectives: 1) to provide further support for the role of the ECB system in the extinction of aversively-motivated behaviours, 2) to compare bioavailable levels of Δ9-THC and its primary psychoactive metabolite, 11-OH-Δ9-THC, after pulmonary and parenteral administration, and 3) to demonstrate that the route of administration of Δ9-THC can have a significant impact on whether or not it facilitates or impairs extinction learning. Results showed that inhaled Δ9-THC dose- and time-dependently facilitated rates of extinction learning of the conditioned aversion whereas injected Δ9-THC significantly impaired extinction. These data suggest that the route of administration of Δ9-THC has important consequences for its resulting pharmacokinetic and behavioural effects, specifically, that pulmonary exposure facilitates, whereas parenteral exposure impairs, rates of extinction learning for conditioned cue aversion. Thus, pulmonary administration of Δ9-THC may prove more beneficial for pharmacological potentiation of extinction learning for aversive memories, such as those supporting drug-craving/seeking in opiate withdrawal-syndrome. / NSERC and OGS

Au cours de cette thèse, nous montrons que l'obésité est un facteur de variabilité pharmacodynamique et pharmacocinétique de la morphine. En particulier, l'absorption et l'exposition à la morphine orale augmentent de façon significative après chirurgie de type bypass gastrique. Nous démontrons le rôle du contenu entérocytaire en transporteur d'efflux P-gp, dans la détermination de l'absorption et de l'exposition à la morphine.