Association between mu opioid receptor gene polymorphisms and Chinese heroin addicts

Mu opioid receptor (MOR) has been shown to be associated with alcoholism an d opioid dependence. The present study examined the involvement of a polymo rphism in A118G in exon 1 and C1031G in intron 2 of the MOR gene in 200 Chi nese heroin-dependent and 97 control subjects. Results showed a significant association for both Al 18G and C1031G polymorphisms and opioid dependence . The G allele is more common in the heroin-dependent group (39.5% and 30.8 % for Al 18G and C1031G polymorphisms, respectively) when compared to the c ontrols (29.4% and 21.1% for A118G and C1031G polymorphisms, respectively). This study suggests that the variant G allele of both A118G and C1031G pol ymorphisms may contribute to the vulnerability to heroin dependence. NeuroR eport 12:1103-1106 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.