Identification and Characterization of Seven New Exon 11-Associated Splice Variants of the Rat Mu Opioid Receptor Gene, OPRM1

Abstract excerpt

BACKGROUND: The mouse mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene undergoes extensive alternative splicing at both the 3'- and 5'-ends of the gene. Previously, several C-terminal variants generated through 3' splicing have been identified in the rat OPRM1 gene. In both mice and humans 5' splicing generates a number of exon 11-containing variants. Studies in an exon 11 knockout mouse suggest the functional importance of these...