Multiple opiate receptors: emerging concepts

Site of action for beta-endorphin-induced changes in plasma luteinizing hormone and prolactin in the ovariectomized rat

A number of sites have been hypothesized as loci at which opioid substances act to alter the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) (1-8). The aim of the present study was to determine the site(s) at which the opioid peptide beta-endorphin (beta-END) acts to influence plasma LH and PRL levels in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat. beta-END, administered into the third ventricle of conscious OVX rats fitted with jugular catheters, significantly decreased plasma LH in doses greater than or equal to 50 ng and increased PRL levels at all doses administered (10, 50, 100 and 250 ng) in a dose dependent fashion. To identify possible central nervous system sites of action, 250 ng beta-END was unilaterally infused into various brain sites. Plasma LH was significantly decreased and plasma PRL significantly increased by infusions into the ventromedial hypothalamic area, the anterior hypothalamic area, and the preoptic-septal area. There was no significant effect of beta-END infusions into the lateral hypothalamic area, amygdala, midbrain central gray, or caudate nucleus. When hemipituitaries of OVX rats were incubated in vitro with beta-END (10(-7)M to 10(-5)M), there was no suppression of basal or LHRH-induced LH release, nor was there any alteration of basal PRL release. It is concluded that beta-END acts at a medial hypothalamic and/or preoptic-septal site and not the pituitary, to alter secretion of LH and PRL.

The effects of chronic naloxone on pituitary hormone secretion in female rats

The effects of a sustained-release implant for naloxone (NAL) on serum concentrations of prolactin (PRL), immunoreactive beta-endorphin (IR-beta-ENDO), growth hormone (GH) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were evaluated in ovariectomized female rats. After 9 days of exposure to NAL, serum levels of none of these 4 pituitary hormones were altered. However, the NAL implant antagonized the stimulatory effects of morphine (15 and 30 mg/kg body weight) on PRL and IR-beta-ENDO secretion, enhanced the stimulatory effects of morphine on GH secretion, and had no effect on morphine-induced suppression of TSH secretion. These results indicate that while chronic NAL exposure does not, by itself, persistently alter pituitary hormone secretion, it differentially effects the response of these hormones to morphine exposure. These data suggest that chronic treatment with narcotic antagonists may invoke differential compensatory mechanisms to maintain normal hormone secretion.

Which opioid receptor mechanism modulates feeding?

There is substantial evidence for the role of endogenous opioid peptides in the regulation of appetite. This communication examines the possible opioid peptide mechanism(s) which are involved in appetite regulation. In the rat, activation of both the dynorphin-kappa opioid receptor and the beta-endorphin-epsilon opioid receptor appear to enhance feeding, most probably acting in different areas of the central nervous system. It also appears that rats may have a mu anorectic system. Too few studies have been undertaken to define whether the delta or sigma receptor systems are also involved in feeding responses. It is becoming apparent that a great deal of species diversity exists in the feeding responses to opiates, making it difficult to extrapolate the results obtained in rats to other species. In humans, studies with naloxone suggest an opioid sensitive feeding system which possibly is specifically involved in the regulation of carbohydrate uptake. In addition, we report here preliminary data suggesting the presence of a mu anorectic system in humans. Thus, analogous to the findings for the role of opioid receptors in analgesia, it appears that multiple opioid receptors may be involved in appetite regulation, each receptor relating to a different aspect of feeding.

Behavioral and biochemical stereoselectivity of sigma opiate/PCP receptors

The relative potencies of the stereoisomers of ketamine, N-allylnormetazocine and cyclazocine were determined at mu opiate and sigma opiate/phencyclidine (PCP) receptors in vitro in rat brain homogenates, as well as in a discriminative stimulus behavioral paradigm in rats trained to discriminate PCP from saline. In all cases the in vivo and in vitro data were in agreement. The (+)-isomers of N-allylnormetazocine and cyclazocine are highly specific sigma opiate/PCP ligands.

Phencyclidine-induced locomotor activity in the rat is blocked by 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the nucleus accumbens: comparisons to other psychomotor stimulants

The present study was primarily designed to explore the relationship between phencyclidine(PCP)-induced hyperactivity and the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system. In addition, the motor-activating and behavioral effects of amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg), SKF-10,047 (25.0 mg/kg), scopolamine (1.0 mg/kg), and caffeine (10.0 mg/kg) were also measured and compared to PCP action. While all compounds produced a moderate to large degree of hyperactivity with varying time courses for effect, gross behavioral observations indicated a greater similarity between PCP and SKF-10,047 than between any of the other drugs. Following bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nucleus accumbens the robust locomotor-stimulating action of 5 mg/kg PCP was significantly reduced. Such lesions also successfully prevented amphetamine- and SKF-10,047-induced hyperactivity, but not the behavioral activation produced by scopolamine or caffeine. These results suggest that PCP and SKF-10,047, like amphetamine, elicit locomotor activity through presynaptic DA mechanisms within the mesolimbic system.

Brain opiates and neuroendocrine function

Opioid peptides are found throughout the central nervous system, and have profound effects on neuroendocrine function. In man, exogenous opiates and opioids elevate circulating prolactin, GH and TSH, and suppress the release of the gonadotrophins and pro-opiocortin-related peptides. However, unlike in other species, there is substantial evidence for a physiological role of endogenous opioids only in the case of the gonadotrophins and ACTH/LPH. Most evidence suggests that LH and FSH are modulated via the hypothalamus or amygdala, where concentrations of opioids and opioid receptors are very high. Endogenous opioids appear to be principally concerned with the frequency-modulated release of GnRH, and this may be important clinically in patients presenting with amenorrhoea. ACTH/LPH are under tonic inhibition by endogenous opioids acting at hypothalamic and/or pituitary levels, and changes in this inhibition may be responsible for the release of these peptides in response to certain forms of stress. It has been reported that the opiate antagonist, naloxone, is clinically useful in paradoxically inhibiting the release of ACTH in patients with Nelson's syndrome, but this requires adequate confirmation. Vasopressin is under biphasic opiate control, but the principal effect is probably opiate-mediated inhibition of vasopressin release. The endogenous ligand for this response is likely to be dynorphin. Suppression of vasopressin release by opiates may become a useful therapy in the treatment of the 'Syndrome of inappropriate ADH'.

N-allylnormetazocine (SKF-10,047): the induction of feeding by a putative sigma agonist

Several distinct classes of opiate receptors have been postulated. It has been suggested that two of these, the kappa and sigma, may play a role in the initiation of feeding. The putative sigma receptor agonist N-allylnormetazocine increased food intake at doses of 0.1 and 1 mg/kg, whereas higher doses caused a decreased intake under some conditions. This stimulatory effect increased after repeated injections and was naloxone reversible. After repeated injections of N-allylnormetazocine, the feeding response to ketocyclazocine, but not morphine, appeared at an earlier point than in naive rats. These experiments support the suggestion that the sigma receptor may play some role in the initiation of feeding.

Involvement of dynorphin and the kappa opioid receptor in feeding

Dynorphin-(1-17) produces a highly specific increase in food ingestion. Similar enhancement of food ingestion is found with dynorphin fragments (1-10), (1-11), (1-13) and (3-13) but not with (1-8) and (1-9). Dynorphin B (rimorphin) also enhances food intake. The highly specific kappa agonist U-50,488 also enhances food intake as do a number of other kappa-opiate receptor agonists. These studies provided further for the role of a highly specific dynorphin-kappa opioid receptor in the modulation of feeding.

The effect of the opioid-benzodiazepine, tifluadom, on ingestive behaviors

A large body of evidence has suggested a role for the endogenous opiates and their receptors in the regulation of appetite. In this study, we report on the effects of tifluadom, a noval opiate with a benzodiazepine-like structure and preferential activity at the kappa opiate receptor, on ingestive behaviors. Tifluadom increases food intake in rats without altering water intake. Tifluadom's effect on feeding is more potent than that of morphine or ketocyclazocine and equivalent to that of butorphanol. The effect is partially resistant to naloxone antagonism. Tifluadom is more potent when administered subcutaneously than when given intraperitoneally. These data provide further support for the concept that kappa opiate receptors represent an important component of the natural feeding drive.

Effects of opiate agonists on the conditioned suppression in motility of mice

Mice exhibited a marked suppression in motility (conditioned suppression) when placed in the same environment in which they had previously received an electric footshock. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of opiate agonists on the conditioned suppression in motility. Morphine partially reduced the conditioned suppression in motility while cyclazocine attenuated it in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, ethylketocyclazocine and methionine-enkephalin had no effect. These results suggest that sigma receptor may be more important than mu receptor for opiate-induced attenuation of the conditioned suppression in motility of mice.

Adrenal modulation of opiate induced feeding

Endogenous opioids have been shown to initiate feeding in sated animals. In the present study adrenalectomy enhanced the feeding response to the kappa opiate agonist, ethylketocyclazocine and the kappa/sigma opiate agonist, butorphanol tartrate. Adrenalectomy abolished the anorectic effect of naloxone at doses as high as 10 mg/kg. Corticosterone replacement did not alter the opiate induced feeding and adrenal demedullated rats continued to show enhancement to opiate induced feeding. These data suggest that in addition to the central nervous system, the adrenal medulla is involved in opiate related induction of feeding.

Effect of high doses of naloxone on shuttle avoidance acquisition in rats

Administration of high doses of naloxone intraperitoneally (2.5-10.0 mg/kg) resulted in a dose-related impairment of avoidance response acquisition in a shuttle avoidance paradigm in rats. Naloxone in this dose range produced a significant decrease in the number of intertrial responses but did not result in a significant dose-response. Escape latencies were not affected by naloxone administration at any dose tested. The effect of naloxone on activity and nociception are implicated as possible causes of the observed behavior. The results are discussed as behavioral evidence supporting theories postulating multiple opiate receptors.

Is schizophrenia an immunologic receptor disorder?

A model is proposed for an autoimmune etiology for schizophrenia. We propose that schizophrenia is a syndrome (not a disease). We suggest that autoantibodies (and/or cell-mediated immunity) directed against autologous neurotransmitter receptors are responsible for the ebb and flow of psychotic symptomatology. The hypothesis is predicated on autoimmune models in other known receptor diseases as well as on the newly emerging recognition that general immune dysfunction exists in certain schizophreniform psychoses.

Naloxone-induced hypodipsia: a CNS mapping study

Opiate antagonists have been shown to reliably attenuate drinking behavior. Recent research points to a central site of action for this antidipsogenic effect. To pursue this issue of site specificity, naloxone, a specific opiate antagonist, was delivered into a number of discrete subcortical areas in 23 hour water-deprived rats. Water intake was measured at 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes post drug injection. Compared to saline control injections, naloxone reliably depressed water intake, in a dose-related manner, in lateral hypothalamus, preoptic area and zona incerta. Previous research has repeatedly implicated these areas in drinking behavior. Placements which were not generally effective included lateral ventricle, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra and cortex/corpus callosum. Latency to drink was never affected by any dose of naloxone injected into any site, suggesting an opioid influence on mechanisms involved in termination and/or maintenance rather than on initiation of drinking.

Inhibition of an opioid-evoked vagal reflex in rats by naloxone, SMS 201-995 and ICI 154, 129

Intravenous injection of opioid agonists in rats evokes a vagal reflex resulting in a fall in heart rate, and blood pressure. Three opioid antagonists, naloxone, SMS 201-995, and ICI 154,129 were used to assess the nature of the opioid receptors that mediate the vagal reflex. The agonists used were morphine, Tyr-Pro-NMePhe-D-Pro-NH2 (PLO17), and D-Ala2-Leu5-enkephalin (DADL). At challenge doses of morphine, PLO17, and DADL at five times the ED50 for bradycardia, the naloxone ED50 for DADL was nine times greater than that for morphine and PLO17. The pA2 value of naloxone against DADL was significantly less than that for morphine and PLO17. The antagonist properties of SMS 201-995 were similar to those of naloxone. ICI 154,129, a putative delta receptor antagonist, was not, however, selective in its antagonism of opioid bradycardia. Both SMS 201-995 and ICI 154,129, when injected alone, produced changes in heart rate and blood pressure. The cardiovascular actions of the peptide antagonists were not affected by naloxone hydrochloride at doses up to 4 mg/kg i.v.

Benzomorphan interactions with acetylcholine receptor complexes from Torpedo

Benzomorphan interactions with acetylcholine receptor complexes from Torpedo californica electric organ were investigated using radiolabelled probes. All of the benzomorphans had minimal affinity for the acetylcholine binding site. Four benzomorphans (N-allylnormetazocine, cyclazocine, phenazocine and pentazocine) inhibited the binding of tritiated perhydrohistrionicotoxin and phencyclidine to ion channel sites with IC50 values between 0.4 and 5 microM. Two other benzomorphans, ketazocine and ethylketocyclazocine, were much less active. Thus, ion channel affinity is not limited to benzomorphans which stimulate sigma-opiate receptors, and is not a certain indication of psychotomimetic potency.

The effects of aging on opioid modulation of feeding in rats

Feeding responses to naloxone and butorphanol tartrate were measured in Fisher-344 rats with ages of 2, 12, 22 and 28 months. The two younger groups were 10-100 times more sensitive than the older groups to the suppressive effects of naloxone on feeding. Additionally, the older rats were less responsive to the feeding enhancement following butorphanol injections. These results are consistent with reports of age-related changes in endogenous opioid systems.

Endogenous opioids: naloxone disrupts learned performance in rats

The effect of naloxone on learned performance reinforced by food was examined in 2 experiments. Male rats were trained to run down a short runway for 5 (45 mg) food pellets per trial and were then shifted either to 1 or 0 pellets. Following such an abrupt reinforcement shift, animals typically show an emotional disruption of performance (Crespi, 1942) referred to as "depression". We examined the postshift depression-effect in groups treated either with saline (SAL) or naloxone (NAL). In experiment 1 NAL groups received a single 10 mg/kg (s.c.) injection prior to each postshift session. When compared with SAL controls, NAL animals showed an exaggerated postshift depression-effect. Furthermore, a single (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) injection of the enkephalin analog FK 33-824 (D-Ala2, MePhe4, Met-(0)5-o1) produced a dramatic recovery of performance. In the second experiment, these effects were replicated at a low NAL dose (1 mg/kg), which had no direct effect on motor performance. These findings suggest that opiate systems may modulate the incentive motivation that maintains learned performance.

Opioid modulation of appetite

The discovery of opiate receptors and endogenous opioid peptides within the central nervous system has resulted in a number of speculations concerning the physiological significance of these peptides. In the present article, we review the evidence suggesting a primary role for some of the opioid peptides as regulators of ingestive behavior. In particular, we elaborate a hypothesis in which we suggest that in some species opioid peptides may play a role as a tonic inducer of ingestive behaviors, held in check by a variety of neuropeptides and monoamines. This review explores in detail the role of the opioid peptides as major mediators of the reward system and as a link between reward and feeding behaviors. Finally, a teleological role for opioid peptides in species preservation, which may explain the discrepancies in the role of the opioid peptides in feeding behavior in different species is proposed. It is suggested that the feeding profile of the animal provides important clues as to whether or not the animal has an opiate-sensitive feeding system. We stress that interactions with ingested nutrients and the milieu interieur provide an important means by which animals modulate the opiate-entrained feeding drives.

The analgesic effects of morphine, but not those of the enkephalinase inhibitor thiorphan, are enhanced in arthritic rats

The effects of various i.v. doses of morphine (0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg/kg) and of thiorphan, an inhibitor of enkephalinase (0.7, 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg), were studied upon the vocalization threshold to foot pressure in normal rats and rats with Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis. The vocalization threshold in arthritic rats was, before any injections, significantly lower than in normal rats (mean pressure threshold for vocalization: 115.2 g +/- 14.7 (n = 152) for arthritic rats vs 182.5 g +/- 21.3 for normal rats (n = 152). The various doses of morphine in raising the vocalization threshold were more efficient in arthritic than in normal rats (maximum vocalization threshold (% of control) following 1 mg/kg morphine = 225.70 +/- 10.21 in arthritic rats vs 140.75 +/- 6.87 in normal rats, n = 9 in each case). This effect was dose-dependent, and in every case, naloxone-reversible. Injected at doses of 5-15 mg/kg, thiorphan increased the vocalization threshold (maximum = 223.91% +/- 11.96 in arthritic rats vs 223.30% +/- 5.93 in normal rats for 15 mg/kg i.v., n = 9 for each group). This effect was not greater in arthritic than in normal rats. The dose of 2.5 mg/kg of thiorphan was insufficient. Administered at 0.7 mg/kg, thiorphan significantly decreased the vocalization threshold in the arthritic rats only. These effects of thiorphan were all naloxone-reversible using doses of naloxone which were one-hundredth of those of thiorphan.

Opiate receptors: enkephalins and endorphins

Opiate receptors in the central nervous system may be classified according to pharmacological, behavioural, or binding studies. Classical mu-receptors probably have beta-endorphin as an endogenous ligand, and seem to be involved in the modulation of pain perception, low-frequency acupuncture analgesia, and the stimulation of prolactin, growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone release. Met-enkephalin is likely to be an endogenous ligand for the delta-receptors, which predominate in the basal ganglia and limbic systems; such receptors may tonically inhibit the release of corticotrophin-releasing factor. It has been suggested that the newly-described kappa-receptors may inhibit the release of vasopressin and gonadotrophin-releasing factor; dynorphin may be their endogenous ligand. Endogenous opiates controlling cardiovascular and respiratory reflexes are likely to activate mu-receptors, while high-frequency acupuncture may alleviate the symptoms of opiate withdrawal by allowing an increase in Met-enkephalin to activate delta-receptors. In the periphery, beta-endorphin is concentrated in the corticotrophs of the anterior pituitary, and is cosecreted with ACTH and related peptides. Circulating Met-enkephalin originates in the gut, sympathetic nervous system and adrenal medulla. Met-enkephalin may also be extracted from carcinoid tumours and phaeochromocytomas. Elevations in circulating Met-enkephalin may occur in certain disease states with cardiovascular and psychiatric manifestations. However, manipulation of endogenous or exogenous opiates has as yet no certain place in any clinical situation.

Opiate binding sites in bovine adrenal medulla

Previous studies using a variety of opiate ligands have suggested the existence of several subclasses of opiate receptors in crude membrane fractions of rat brain, and a similar diversity in bovine adrenal medulla. To examine the receptor profile of bovine adrenal medulla in detail we have studied the binding of classical ligands for mu (mu), delta (delta) and kappa (kappa) opiate receptors. [3H]naloxone ([3H]NAL), [3H]morphine ([3H]MOR), [3H]D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin ([3H]DAL) and [3H]ethyl-ketocyclazocine ([3H]EKCZ) were used as tracers; unlabeled competitors were NAL, MOR, DAL and ketocyclazocine (KCZ). In adrenal medulla [3H]NAL was specifically bound with a hierarchy of displacement NAL greater than MOR greater than KCZ much greater than DAL. No specific binding of [3H]DAL or [3H]EKCZ was found; for [3H]MOR very low levels of binding were seen, with no displacement by NAL or DAL, inconsistent displacement by KCZ and substantial displacement by MOR with an ED50 of 1.5 nM. In parallel studies rat brain membranes bound each labeled ligand with affinity and specificity consistent with previously published reports. Identical results were obtained in membranes from both tissues prepared with a preincubation step including 100 mM Na+, suggesting that the results were not influenced by occupation of binding sites by endogenous ligands. We interpret these data as supporting the existence of opiate receptors of the mu subtype in bovine adrenal medulla. We find, however, no evidence of delta or kappa sites in this tissue.

Three-choice drug discrimination: phencyclidine-like stimulus effects of opioids

To assess the commonalities and differences in the discriminative stimulus properties of phencyclidine (PCP) and psychotomimetic opioids, rats were trained to discriminate PCP (2.0 mg/kg), cyclazocine (1.0 mg/kg), and saline in a three-choice discrete-trial avoidance paradigm. Stimulus control of behavior, defined as the reliable completion of 18 trials of a 20-trial session on the appropriate choice lever after administration of PCP, cyclazocine, or saline, was established in an average of 157 sessions. In tests of stimulus generalization, SKF-10,047 and dextrorphan engendered lever choices appropriate to both PCP and cyclazocine, sometimes in the same animal and at the same dose. The rats responded almost exclusively on the PCP-appropriate lever after ketamine and on the saline lever after morphine and d-amphetamine, indicating pharmacologic specificity. Naltrexone, in doses that had little effect on stimulus control of behavior by PCP, completely blocked cyclazocine-like stimulus control. Decreases in cyclazocine choices in the presence of naltrexone were associated with increases in PCP choices. These results support conclusions derived from two-choice procedures that psychotomimetic opioids have PCP-like stimulus effects, and provide direct evidence that these effects of cyclazocine are mediated by a component of action insensitive to an opiate antagonist.

Biochemical and pharmacological evidence for opioid receptor multiplicity in the central nervous system

Evidence from a variety of experimental models has suggested the existence of mu 1, mu 2 and delta binding sites for morphine and the enkephalins in the central nervous system. Additional biochemical experiments now support this concept of a common high affinity site for opiates and opioid peptides. Mu sites have now been implicated in a number of pharmacological actions, including supraspinal analgesia, prolactin release, and catalepsy, but not in others (spinal analgesia, respiratory depression, and the guinea pig ileum). The hypothesis of mu 1 sites was supported by the unique opioid meptazinol, which selectively bound to mu 1 sites. As expected from its mu 1 binding selectivity, its analgesic actions in the mouse, localized supraspinally, were antagonized by the selective mu 1 antagonist naloxonazine and it had no respiratory depressant actions. Other binding studies suggested the presence of discrete SKF10,047-selective (KD approximately 5 nM) binding sites in rat brain which differed from both kappa sites and the previously reported PCP-binding sigma sites. Additional binding and autoradiographical studies have also implied the presence of beta-endorphin, or epsilon, sites in the CNS.

Differential effects of SKF 10,047 (N-allyl-normetazocine) on peristalsis and longitudinal muscle contractions of the isolated guinea-pig ileum

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differential involvement of distinct types of opioid receptors in the modulation of intestinal peristalsis compared to electrically induced longitudinal muscle contractions. Like naloxone, the proposed sigma-agonist and mu-antagonist SKF 10,047 (N-allyl-normetazocine) dose-dependently enhanced peristaltic circular muscle contractions in the isolated guinea-pig ileum. Pre-application of SKF 10,047 at a concentration which itself enhanced peristalsis by 20% on average strongly attenuated the inhibition of peristalsis produced by opioids previously proposed to act via mu-opioid-receptors in the guinea-pig ileum, i.e. normorphine, beta-endorphin, D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin and d-Ser2-L-Leu5-enkephalyl-Thr, but less strongly attenuated the inhibition produced by compounds suggested to act via kappa-opioid-receptors in this tissue, i.e. ethylketazocine and dynorphin (1-13). In contrast to its effect on peristalsis, SKF 10,047 inhibited the electrically induced contractions of the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation in a naloxone-reversible fashion. It may be concluded that mu-and kappa-opioid receptors are of a greater functional significance than sigma-receptors in the control of peristalsis. sigma-Receptors might participate predominantly in modulating the release of acetylcholine which underlies the electrically induced longitudinal muscle contraction.

Selectivity of minimum structure enkephalins

The biological activity of 45 deletion tetrapeptide-, tripeptide- and dipeptide enkephalin analogs has been determined in the stimulated mouse vas deferens (MVD) and guinea pig ileum (GPI) assays. A comparison of the GPI and MVD activities of these 45 minimum structure analogs indicates a high degree of mu receptor specificity. The greatest selectivity is found in the dipeptide amide Tyr-DAla-benzylamide, while high selectivity was also found in the tetrapeptides Tyr-DAla-Trp-Leu-NH2 and Tyr-Aib-Phe-Leu-NH2, and in two tripeptides Tyr-DTrp-Phe-NH2 and Tyr-Pro-Phe-NH2. The dipeptide amide Tyr-DAla-(3-phenyl-1-propyl)-amide (DAPPA), which has been shown to possess high in vitro potency (on the stimulated GPI) and in vivo potency (analgesia in mice after icv administration), is shown to have 60 times the activity in the GPI assay relative to its activity on the stimulated MVD, further indicating the correlation between mu-receptor activity and analgesia.

Motility effects of opioid peptides in dog intestine

Six opioid peptides, like morphine, were found to produce dose-dependent contractions of dog isolated intestine when administered as intraarterial boluses. The increases in incidence and amplitude of intestinal contractions were antagonized by naloxone. The rank order of potency of the opioid agonists tested was D-Ala2-met-enkephalinamide greater than D-Ala2-leu-enkephalinamide greater than met-enkephalin greater than beta-endorphin 1-31 greater than morphine greater than morphiceptin greater than dynorphin 1-13. The contractions induced by two opioid agonists displayed differential sensitivity to blockade by tetrodotoxin (TTX). Met-enkephalin was barely affected by concentrations of TTX that markedly reduced responses to morphiceptin. Some portion of the motility effect of metenkephalin may be exerted directly on intestinal smooth muscle.

Cardiorespiratory effects of mu and delta opiate agonists following third or fourth ventricular injections

The cardiorespiratory effects of prototype mu (morphine and beta-casomorphine 1-4) and delta (D-Ala2-D-Leu5Enkephalin-DADLE) opioid ligands were compared following microinjection into third and fourth ventricular spaces in conscious and anesthetized rats. The direction of change in arterial pressure produced by ventricular opioid injections varied according to ligand, site of administration, and state of consciousness of the animal. In general, pentobarbital anesthesia blocked or reversed the pressor response to these opiate agonists; depressor responses became magnified following pentobarbital. Qualitatively, the predominant effect of third ventricular DADLE in anesthetized rats was to produce a depression of arterial pressure and pulse pressure, suggesting an involvement of hypothalamic delta opioid receptors in decreasing sympathetic outflow. By contrast, morphine exerted pronounced bradycardic effects following fourth ventricular administration, suggesting an action at mu opioid receptors which influence vagal parasympathetic activity. Both ligands lowered respiratory rates upon fourth ventricular injection, indicating a possible involvement of either opioid receptor subtype in the depression of brainstem respiratory centers. These depressant effects of opioids upon cardiorespiratory function were readily reversed by naloxone. The qualitative similarity between the cardiovascular effects of third ventricular DADLE administration and various forms of circulatory shock may indicate that both phenomena involve delta opioid receptors at hypothalamic sites.

Differing stereospecificities distinguish opiate receptor subtypes

Paired stereoisomers of compounds active at the proposed mu, kappa and sigma classes of opiate receptors display differing stereoselectivity patterns at the receptor subtypes. The (-) isomers of cyclazocine and SKF-10047 are far more potent than the (+) isomers as displacers of [3H]dihydromorphine from receptors. However, the (-) isomers are only moderately more potent than the (+) isomers at displacing [3H]ethylketocyclazocine from kappa receptors in an assay controlled for radioligand binding to mu receptors, and the (+) and (-) isomers are similar in potency for displacement of [3H]phencyclidine (PCP) from sigma receptors. At the sigma/PCP receptor, (+) ketamine proved four times as potent as (-) ketamine, while the dioxalan derivative dexoxadrol is far more potent than its nearly inactive enantiomer levoxadrol. The results for the sigma/PCP receptor are in agreement with those of behavioral studies. Stereospecificity patterns may provide support for the concept of the opiate receptor subclasses as biochemically distinct entities.

Metkephamid effects on operant behavior

Intravenous injections of high doses of metkephamid (20 and 40 mg/kg) decreased responding by pigeons under a multiple fixed-ratio, fixed-interval schedule of grain presentation. Naloxone antagonized in a dose-related manner the suppression of behavior produced by 40 mg/kg of metkephamid. Daily maintenance on large doses (30 and 60 mg/kg PO) of dlmethadone produced a slight shift of the dose-effect curve of metkephamid to the right. The data suggest that the behavioral effects of metkephamid are due to an action at a mu-opioid receptor.

Naltrexone-induced opiate receptor supersensitivity

Chronic administration of the long-lived narcotic antagonist naltrexone resulted in a marked increase in brain opiate receptors. Similar changes in receptor density were observed for binding of the putative mu agonist [3H]dihydromorphine, the mu antagonist [3H]naloxone, the putative delta ligand [3H]D-Ala2,D-Leu5-enkephalin and [3H]etorphine. In addition, the sensitivity of agonist binding to guanyl nucleotide inhibition increased significantly. In contrast, no such changes in opiate binding were observed following acute administration of naltrexone. The increase in opiate receptor number following chronic naltrexone was highest in the mesolimbic and frontal cortex areas, and lowest in the dorsal hippocampus and periaqueductal gray. These results indicate a degree of plasticity in the opiate receptor system that may correlate with specific functional pathways.

Phencyclidine-like discriminative stimulus properties of opioids in the squirrel monkey

The opioids SKF 10047, dl-cyclazocine, and dextrorphan have been shown to have phencyclidine (PCP)-like discriminative stimulus properties in the rat. In order to extend the generality of this observation, the stimulus effect of these and other opioids were evaluated in squirrel monkeys trained to discriminate between IM injections of saline and 0.25 mg/kg of PCP in a two-choice discrete-trial avoidance paradigm. Stimulus control of behavior was characterized by the reliable completion of at least 22 trials of a 25-trial session on the appropriate choice lever after an injection of saline or PCP. In tests of stimulus generalization, SKF 10047, d-cyclazocine, dextrorphan, normetazocine, dl-cyclazocine, l-cyclazocine, and dextromethorphan occasioned dose-related increases in PCP-appropriate responding. The first four of these compounds and, under some conditions, l- and dl-cyclazocine, produced stimulus control of behavior comparable to that produced by the PCP training dose. Six other opioids occasioned responding only on the saline-appropriate liver: ethylketocyclazocine. Ketocyclazocine, levorphanol, levallorphan, pentazocine, naltrexone. Naltrexone (1.0 or 4.0 mg/kg) attenuated slightly the PCP-like stimulus effects of SKF 10047 and dextrorphan, but increased PCP-appropriate responding with l- and dl-cyclazocine and levorphanol by enabling higher doses of these drugs to be tested without disruption of responding. The PCP-like stimulus effects of certain opioids appear to be mediated at neuronal substrates acted upon by PCP rather than at sites typically associated with opiate activity. These neuronal sites of action common to opioids and PCP may correspond to the sigma "opiate" receptor.