Multiple opiate receptors in the mouse vas deferens

Supersensitivity to morphine of the transmurally stimulated vas deferens isolated from ethanol-pretreated mice

The effect of chronic ethanol pretreatment on the sensitivity of the transmurally stimulated mouse vas deferens to morphine was studied. Vasa deferentia isolated from ethanol-pretreated mice showed supersensitivity to the twitch inhibitory effect of morphine. The affinity of the vas deferens mu-opioid receptors for naloxone was increased. It is concluded that ethanol pretreatment induces mu-opioid receptor alterations which are, at least partially, responsible for the observed supersensitivity to morphine.

The use of mu opioid receptors in the mouse vas deferens for the study of opiate tolerance

We have previously shown that mu opioid receptors in the guinea pig ileum preparations are poor models for those in the central nervous system to study the phenomenon of opiate tolerance. Since we have shown subsequently that the mu opioid receptors in the mouse vas deferens preparation differ from those in the guinea pig ileum, we investigated the possibility that the mu receptors in the mouse vas deferens might be better models for the study of opiate tolerance. The degree of tolerance produced by incubation of mouse vas deferens preparations with morphine in vitro was relatively low. However, when mice were either implanted with morphine pellets (75 mg free base) or injected s.c. with 100, 50 or 25 mg/kg of morphine sulfate, a large magnitude of tolerance in their vasa deferentia was consistently observed. When pA2 analyses were performed in the tolerant vasa deferentia (25 mg/kg) using naloxone, the pA2 value was 7.55 +/- 0.18 compared to the control value of 8.45 +/- 0.24. Since the tissue became significantly more refractory to the effects of the opiate antagonist with the development of tolerance, which is the opposite of what happens with central mu receptors, we conclude that the mu opioid receptors in the mouse vas deferens are not adequate models for those in the central nervous system to study the phenomenon of tolerance.

Thermodynamic analysis of the drug-receptor interaction

Thermodynamic analysis of pharmacologic data potentially offers an insight into the molecular events underlying drug-receptor interactions not obtainable by other techniques. Embodied in thermodynamics are the laws governing the interconvertibility of heat and work and, hence, it is a particularly apt framework for the analysis of the transduction of information from ligand to biological tissue during the initiation of a drug effect. Implicit in thermodynamic analysis of pharmacologic data is quantitative measurement of the driving forces involved in the drug-receptor interaction (in place of less precise terms such as "affinity"). In addition, the cautious interpretation of thermodynamic analysis can give clues to the underlying mechanisms of the drug-receptor interaction that is beyond the resolving power of other parameters, such as the dissociation constant. The present review is an attempt to identify representative reports that have overtly analyzed pharmacologic data with thermodynamic analysis, to summarize the findings within and across studies (particularly regarding enthalpy- versus entropy-driven binding of agonists and antagonists), to point out and address some apparent inconsistencies that can arise, and to consider the application of thermodynamic analysis to data obtained using isolated tissue preparations.

A radiolabeled-ligand-binding technique for the characterization of opioid receptors in the intact mouse vas deferens

The mouse vas deferens has served as a useful bioassay for examining the properties of opiate receptor subtypes. However, recent data indicate that the response of the vas deferens to opiates may be mediated by one or more of the several opiate receptors found in this preparation. Although a number of techniques can be utilized to assess the relative contribution of these receptors to the response of the mouse vas deferens to opiates (e.g., selective tolerance and naloxone antagonism studies), a radiolabeled-binding technique would provide an independent means of more completely characterizing the opiate receptor profiles in this preparation. Up to the present, however, there has been only limited success in developing a binding assay utilizing crude membrane fractions of the mouse vas deferens. To circumvent these problems, we have developed a binding technique utilizing the intact vas deferens. In contrast to results obtained with membrane fractions, we found highly specific (90-95%) and saturable binding of D-[2-3H]alanine, 5-D-leucine enkephalin, a ligand selective for delta opiate receptors, to the intact vas. Scatchard analyses indicated a single class of binding sites with an apparent Kd of 1.5 nM and a Bmax of approximately 12 pmol/2 vas. The selectivity of binding was also examined. Naltrexone was 40 times less potent than unlabeled 2-D-alanine, 5-D-leucine enkephalin in displacing binding, whereas morphine and ethylketocyclazocine were 300 and 500 times less effective, respectively. This technique, coupled with the mouse vas deferens bioassay, should provide a more complete characterization of opioid receptor populations than has heretofore been possible.

A precision isotonic measuring system for isolated tissues

An isotonic measuring system is described which utilizes an angular position transducer of the linear differential voltage transformer type. Resistance to corrosion, protection against the ingress of solutions, and ease of mounting and setting up were the mechanical objectives. Accuracy, linearity, and freedom from drift were essential requirements of the electrical specification. A special housing was designed to accommodate the transducer to overcome these problems. A control unit incorporating a power supply and electronic filtering components was made to serve up to four such transducers. The transducer output voltage is sufficiently high to drive directly even low sensitivity chart recorders. Constructional details and a circuit diagram are included. Fifty such transducers have been in use for up to four years in these laboratories. Examples of some of the published work done using this transducer system are referenced.