Microbiome Influence on the Neurobiology of Opioid Addiction and Brain Connectivity

Opioids are the most effective and potent analgesics available for acute pain management. With no viable alternative for treating chronic or post operative pain, it is not surprising that over 10 million people misuse opioids. This study explores the developmental influence of the microbiome on resistance to opioid addictive behavior and functional connectivity. Female germ free reared (GFR) mice were compared to wild-type (WT) mice, before and after conventionalization using conditioned place preference (CPP) with oxycodone (OXY) exposure. The results suggest the microbiome has a direct impact on the development of reward seeking behavior. With the widespread number of opioid receptors found in the gut, studying the interaction between the microbiota and substance use disorder may lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms that lead to the development of addiction as well as potential treatments.