The Corporation of Mercer University, a private non-profit university, was awarded a $387,750 Project Grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (CFDA 93.279 - Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs) to conduct research on the molecular pharmacology of the drug xylazine and its effects on adrenoceptors.
The research project aims to assess xylazine's binding affinity and functional effects at different adrenoceptor subtypes expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells. This will help elucidate the mechanisms behind xylazine-induced skin necrosis, a severe adverse effect observed with the illicit use of xylazine-adulterated opioids. The study will utilize novel biosensor technologies to evaluate xylazine's signaling profiles compared to other adrenoceptor agonists. The ultimate goal is to fill critical gaps in the understanding of xylazine's pharmacological properties and their relation to the drug's dangerous side effects.