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. 2014 Jan 9;124(2):656–669. doi: 10.1172/JCI70090

Figure 6. Morphine regulates dendritic spine density through effects on neuronal FHC.

Figure 6

(A and B) Rat cortical neurons cultured for 21 days were treated with morphine (1 μm, 24 hours), which both (A) increased FHC levels (n = 4) and (B) decreased dendritic spine density (n = 12). (C and D) Similarly, 3-week-old rats treated with sustained-release morphine pellets for 4 days exhibited (C) increased brain FHC levels (n = 4) and (D) decreased total dendritic spine density (n = 12). (E) FHC overexpression in the absence of morphine also decreased dendritic spine density, as measured in cultured rat cortical neurons transfected with a FHC-expressing plasmid or empty vector (n = 16). (F) The ability of morphine to regulate dendritic spine density was blocked in FHC-deficient neurons, as shown using FHC-specific or scrambled control shRNA. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001. Scale bars: 5 μm (B and E); 10 μm (D). See complete unedited blots in the supplemental material.