title: [Visualization of opiate receptors in the locus coeruleus of rats: high resolution radioautography after administration of a tritiated met-enkephalin analog].
abstract: Opiate receptor sites were visualized by high resolution radioautography in the locus coeruleus of the Rat following intraventricular injection of the met-enkephalin analogue FK 33-824 tritiated with a high specific activity (3H-FK). After administration of a tracer dose of 3H-FK, more than 75% of the radioactivity detected in the locus coeruleus is specifically bound to opiate receptor sites. These are distributed both between and inside neuronal perikarya. After administration of 3H-FK at high concentration, electron microscope radioautography shows the presence of specific opiate binding sites at the level of axo-somatic and axo-dendritic synaptic junctions. These synaptic binding sites could correspond to receptor sites for endogenous enkephalins.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D004723:Endorphins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000032:analysis*; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D004745:Enkephalins; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D014316:Tritium
vernacular_title: Visualisation des récepteurs aux opiacés dans le locus coeruleus du rat: étude radioautographique à haute résolution après administration d'un analogue tritié de la met-enképhaline.