Opioid research is one of the multidisciplinary research areas that involve advanced techniques ranging from molecular genetics to neuropharmacology, and from behavioral neuroscience to clinical medicine. In current opioid research, it has become increasingly important to use multiple approaches at molecular, cellular, and system levels for investigations on a specific opio- related target system. That often requires understanding and applying cro- field techniques and methods for the success of one¿s research projects. Through its broad spectrum of coverage, Opioid Research: Methods and Protocols provides a comprehensive collection of major laboratory methods and protocols in current opioid research, covering topics from molecular and genetic techniques to behavioral analyses of animal models, and then to clinical practice. It will serve as a convenient reference book from which those involved in opioid research will learn or perfect the necessary cross-field techniques. The detailed methods and protocols described in Opioid Research: Methods and Protocols have each been successfully applied in current opioid research. Part I provides molecular techniques for the cloning and expression of opioid receptors, and for the quantitative characterization of their signaling pathways. Part II includes primary techniques for mapping the distributions and detecting the expression levels of opioid receptors, opioid peptides, and their messages in brain tissues and in individual cells. Part III deals with methods for creating in vitro receptor models and in vivo animal models to study opioid functions. Part IV describes practical applications of opioids in clinical medicine for the treatment of pain and opioid addiction.

Molecular Characterization of Opioid Receptors and Signaling Pathways.- Molecular Cloning of Opioid Receptors by cDNA Library Screening.- Expression of Opioid Receptors in Mammalian Cell Lines.- Assessing Opioid Regulation of Adenylyl Cyclase Activity in Intact Cells.- Analysis of Opioid-Induced Kinase Activation.- Study of Opioid Receptor Phosphorylation Using Cell-Labeling Method with 32P-Orthrophosphate.- Opioid Receptor Coupling to GIRK Channels.- Identification of Alternatively Spliced Variants from Opioid Receptor Genes.- Mapping and Detection of Endogenous Opioids.- Immunohistochemical Localization of ?-, ?- and K-Opioid Receptors Within the Antinociceptive Brainstem Circuits.- In Situ Hybridization in Neural Tissues.- Quantitative Single-Cell RT-PCR for Opioid Receptors and Housekeeping Genes.- Gene Arrays and Proteomics.- Model Systems for Studies on Opioid Functions.- Opioid Receptor Oligomerization.- Recombinant Opioid Receptors.- Receptor Knock-Out and Gene Targeting.- Pharmacological Interventions at the Spinal Cord.- Opioid Tolerance in Adult and Neonatal Rats.- Animal Models of Neuropathic Pain.- Place Conditioning to Study Drug Reward and Aversion.- Opiate Self-Administration.- Clinical Applications of Opioids.- Acute, Chronic, and Cancer Pain.- Clinical Treatment of Opioid Addiction and Dependence.