Epitranscriptomic map of N6-methyladenosine circular RNAs in the spinal cord of morphine-tolerant rats. Epitranscriptomic map of N6-methyladenosine circular RNAs in the spinal cord of morphine-tolerant rats

Morphine tolerance is a tricky problem, the mechanism of it is still unclear. Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) play important roles in biological process of central nervous system. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) as a key post-transcriptional modification of RNA can regulate the metabolism and functions of circRNAs. Here we conducted this research to explore the patterns of m6A-methylation of circRNAs in the spinal cords of 4 morphine tolerated rats and 4 normal rats. Overall design: The adult male SD rats were randomly divided into normal saline group (NS group) and morphine tolerance group (MT group). Rats in the MT group were administrated morphine hydrochloride injection 10 μg/10 μl intrathecally through the tube inserted into the sheath at 8:00 a.m. and 20:00 p.m. for 7 consecutive days, the NS group was given 10 μl of normal saline at the same time point.

吗啡耐受是一个亟待解析的科学难题，其具体机制至今仍未明确。环形RNA（Circular RNAs，CircRNAs）在中枢神经系统的生物学过程中发挥关键调控作用。N6-甲基腺苷（N6-methyladenosine，m6A）作为一类重要的RNA转录后修饰方式，可调控环形RNA的代谢与功能。本研究开展相关实验，旨在探究4只吗啡耐受大鼠与4只正常大鼠脊髓组织中环形RNA的m6A甲基化谱特征。研究设计概述：将成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为生理盐水组（NS组）与吗啡耐受组（MT组）。MT组大鼠于每日早8:00与晚8:00，通过鞘内置管向鞘内注射10 μg/10 μl盐酸吗啡，连续给药7天；NS组于相同时间点给予10 μl生理盐水。