title: Morphine-induced modulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide levels.
abstract: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a novel calcium-modulatory product of the gene that encodes for calcitonin. Acute administration of morphine decreases levels of CGRP in rat corpus striatum. Tolerance to morphine did not alter the levels of CGRP in any brain region or in the spinal cord of the rat. CGRP did not alter the tolerance to the antinociceptive effects of morphine. Chronic naltrexone increased the levels of CGRP in the hypothalamus. Concurrent chronic administration of naltrexone plus morphine raised the levels of CGRP in the medulla, midbrain, and spinal cord. CGRP enhances naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumping in mice. In rats, during withdrawal the levels of CGRP were tripled in the corpus striatum and significantly reduced in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. In the corpus striatum, CGRP enhances forskolin-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation when such accumulation is suppressed (as with the chronic opiate administration), but conversely depresses forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation under normal conditions (as with chronic vehicle administration). These data are consistent with the hypothesis that CGRP acts as a modulatory peptide in opiate-sensitive systems and tonic opioid control of CGRP levels exists in brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pugh
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004343:Drug Implants; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005576:Colforsin; D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide