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Disruption of opioid-induced placebo responses by activation of cholecystokinin type-2 receptors
Plain-language guide to PMID 20931328 (2011): double-blind randomized controlled trial study of Cholecystokinin (CCK) and Pentagastrin.
Key Facts
- PMID
- 20931328
- Journal
- Psychopharmacology
- Year
- 2011
- Study type
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Authors
- Benedetti F et al. (3 authors)
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00213-010-2037-y
What This Study Did, in Plain Language
What Was Tested
The paper reports a study of Cholecystokinin (CCK) and Pentagastrin, published as a randomized controlled trial.
On the basis of the anti-opioid action of cholecystokinin, here the researchers tested whether the activation of the cholecystokinin type-2 receptors abolishes opioid-induced placebo responses.
Why It Was Studied
Placebos are known to induce analgesia through the activation of μ-opioid receptors in some circumstances, such as after morphine pre-conditioning, an effect that is blocked by opioid antagonists.
Who Took Part
The age groups tagged for this paper are young adults and adults, both men and women.
The activation of the cholecystokinin type-2 receptors was performed by means of the agonist pentagastrin, and placebo responses were obtained after morphine pre-conditioning in an experimental human model of pain (tourniquet technique).
How the Study Was Run
In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.
The participants were allocated by chance, so the Cholecystokinin (CCK) group and the comparison group should start out alike.
As a double-blind Cholecystokinin (CCK) study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.
A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the Cholecystokinin (CCK) group a baseline to be compared against.
What Was Measured
PubMed files the paper under topics including Analgesics, Opioid, Morphine, Pain, Pentagastrin, Placebo Effect, Receptor, Cholecystokinin B and Tourniquets.
What This Means in Plain Language
The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Cholecystokinin (CCK) and Pentagastrin.
Its findings take up roughly 4 sentences of the abstract and are left out here on purpose; the source paper is the place to read them.
The publication is from 2011 (Psychopharmacology), a journal based in Germany.
More context: the Cholecystokinin (CCK) compound page and the Pentagastrin compound page, all human trials.
Our Notes on the Compounds
Cholecystokinin (CCK): A gut and brain peptide hormone that stimulates gallbladder contraction and signals fullness.
Pentagastrin: A synthetic 5-unit peptide that mimics gastrin; historically used to test stomach acid secretion.
Related Pages
Source: PubMed record. This explanation is written by PeptideWhiz from the public record. For research and education only. Not medical advice; no dosing information is given.