Single-cell RNA-seq of fentanyl on mouse medulla cell populations.

The weaponization of Ultrapotent synthetic opioids (UPS) has made finding a novel reversal agent a priority. The current opioid response agent, Naloxone, is not as effective against UPS opioids and does not reverse one of its know effects, wooden chest syndrome. Using an advanced mouse population, with genetic diversity comparable to a human population, we aim to identify novel targets for the development of UPS opioid reversal agents. Using a cohort of male and female mice eight different founder strains from the Collaborative Cross/Diversity Outbred, one half received saline, and the other half received fentanyl. The medulla was isolated 45 minutes following treatment was analyzed by single-nucleus RNA-Seq, comparing the cellular populations and differential gene expression across strain, sex and treatments.