title: Opiate peptide modulation of amino acid responses suggests novel form of neuronal communication.
abstract: Mouse spinal neurons grown in tissue culture were used to study the electrophysiological pharmacology of the opiate peptide leucine-enkephalin. Enkephalin depressed glutamate-evoked responses in a noncompetitive manner independent of any other effects on membrane properties. The results demonstrate a neuromodulatory action of opiate peptide functionally distinct from the conventional neurotransmitter class of operation.
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004723:Endorphins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007478:Iontophoresis; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D013116:Spinal Cord; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D004745:Enkephalins; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; D009270:Naloxone