Journal of Comprehensible Results

Another protein of interest was myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) which is thought to play a role in the initial interaction between axons and myelin[5]. MAG levels significantly decreased at 12 and 26 days of age for the group given 1 mg/kg/day of buprenorphine. MAG levels increased in the 26-day old rats that were exposed to 0.3 mg/kg buprenorphine.

MAG may be regulated by changes to its glycosylation[14]. If buprenorphine alters glycosylation, then the early stages of myelination could be affected. There were no significant changes in the 19 or 26 day old age group; however, in the 12 day age group there was a significant increase in Gly-MAG levels for the 0.3 mg/kg/day treatment group and a significant decrease in the 1 mg/kg/day group. This supports that MAG regulation primarily occurs in the early stages of myelination. Although there was a significant decrease in glycosylated MAG in the 12 day 1 mg/kd/day group, this could be caused by the decrease in MAG levels that were seen when MAG was examined on its own.

Figure 4: Relative levels of MAG The level of MAG is estimated in comparison to the levels found in the control. A red star indicates a signficant results. These results were obtained by performing a Western Blot

Adapted from "Opioid Addiction and Pregnancy:Perinatal Exposure to Buprenorphine Affects Myelination in the Developing Brain." by Sanchez E, Bigbee J, Fobbs W, Robinson S, Sato-Bigbee C, 2008, GLIA, 56, p. 1023. Copyright 2008 by Wiley-Liss, Inc.
 

Figure 5: Relative Levels of Glycosylated MAG The level of Glycosylated-MAG is estimated in comparison to the levels found in the control. A red star indicates a signficant results.

Adapted from "Opioid Addiction and Pregnancy:Perinatal Exposure to Buprenorphine Affects Myelination in the Developing Brain." by Sanchez E, Bigbee J, Fobbs W, Robinson S, Sato-Bigbee C, 2008, GLIA, 56, p. 1024. Copyright 2008 by Wiley-Liss, Inc.