heroin effect on brain.
Heroin, morphine, codeine: how body n brain Nerve Cells Respond to Opiates
Within the limbic system, brainstem and spinal cord, there are places on certain nerve cells that recognize opiates. When stimulated by opiates, these sites -- called opiate receptors -- trigger responses in the brain and body.
Scientists have identified three types of opiate receptors: delta, mu and kappa (named after letters in the Greek aphabet: Delta, Mu, Kappa). Each of these receptors is involved in different brain functions. For example, mu is responsible for the pain-relieving effects of the drug morphine.
Opiates act on many places in the brain and nervous system.
The limbic system controls emotions. Opiates change the limbic system to produce increased feelings of pleasure, relaxation and contentment.
The brainstem controls things your body does automatically, like breathing or coughing. Opiates can act on the brainstem to stop coughing or slow breathing.
The spinal cord transmits pain signals from the body. By acting here, opiates block pain messages and allow people to bear even serious injuries.
Heroin, morphine, codeine: Cloning opiate Receptors to help study
After years of experiments, scientists have discovered how to copy ("clone") the genes that control the production of opiate receptors. Now it will be easier for researchers to make opiate receptors and study how opiates affect nerve cells.
This discovery may lead to other exciting developments, such as better treatments for opiate addiction.
Heroin, morphine, codeine: Opiates Stop Pain
Did you know that some opiates can have important medical uses? They're powerful pain killers, and doctors sometimes prescribe them to control severe diarrhea. If you look on a cough medicine label, you might find that codeine is one of the ingredients.
When used properly for medical purposes, opiates don't produce an intense feeling of pleasure, and patients have very little chance of becoming addicted.
Heroin, morphine, codeine: Surprising Facts
Your brain produces its own versions of opiates, called endogenous opioids. These chemicals act just like opiates, binding to opiate receptors.
Endogenous opioids are your body's way of controlling pain. If you've ever felt pleasantly relaxed after exercising a lot, that feeling was probably caused by the release of this natural chemical in your brain.