1. Heroin and Cell Signaling
By: Carley, Kai, and Matt

2. What is Heroin? A highly addictive illegal drug.
Basically an altered form of morphine.
From the opium sap of a poppy plant.
Usually comes in form of a fine powder, but is often diluted with other substances for various forms of intake .
Usually injected, smoked, or sniffed.

3. Heroin and Cell Signaling
Ligand: Opioid
Receptor: Opioid/Opiate Receptor
G-proteins that are widely distributed throughout the brain.
Normally receive and act on natural opioids such as endorphins (natural pain and stress reliever).

4. Heroin and Cell Signaling
Heroin, like morphine, is an artificial opioid that fits into the opioid receptors and provides pain relief, stress relief, and just generally makes the user “feel good” (as one website put it, “general euphoria”).
Abusing heroin causes the brain to be overstimulated with opioids, causing the user’s body to be unable to bring the natural opioids to a normal level (cutting off all relief).

5. Transduction Pathway Heroin functions like natural opiates.
Heroin binds to opiate receptors and prevents the release of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
GABA normally stops the production of dopamine.
Without GABA, dopamine floods the synapse.

6. Normal GABA inhibition
Effects of opiates

7. Transduction Pathway (cont.)
G protein receptors lead to the formation of cAMP
cAMP opens K+ channels while closing Ca+ channels

8. Cellular Response
Dopamine will enter the synapse and bind to the dopamine receptors.
The user will feel an intense rush of pleasure and happiness.
After the initial effects:
Vomiting
Nausea
Several hours of drowsiness
Clouded mind
Breathing slows down

9. Bibliography Works Cited
Conrad Stoppler, Melissa, MD. "Endorphins: Natural Pain and Stress Fighters." MedicineNet. N.p., 1 Dec Web. 07 Dec
"Opioid Receptor." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 July Web. 08 Dec
Sherman, Carl. "Impacts of Drugs on Neurotransmission." The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 1 Oct Web. 04 Dec
"What Is Heroin? How Is Heroin Made? What Is Heroin Made Of?" Drug-Free World. Foundation for a Drug-Free World, n.d. Web. 04 Dec
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