Patent ID: 6270979
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: A61K,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
An in vitro method of screening a test compound for effects on opioid .mu. receptors, comprising:providing cells having opioid .mu. receptors, the receptors having been pretreated by having been incubated with a narcotic analgesic functioning as an agonist therein for about 12 hours or longer, and then subsequently removing the narcotic analgesic so that the receptors are substantially free of narcotic analgesic, the receptors having a first receptor activity determined therefrom:determining a second receptor activity while the receptors are substantially free of narcotic analgesic, the second receptor activity determined in the presence of an inverse agonist associated with substantially all the receptors;determining a third receptor activity by contacting a test compound with the receptors having had the narcotic analgesic substantially removed therefrom; and,comparing the receptor activities.