Opioid receptor modulation of neural transmission in the rabbit coeliac ganglion and ganglionic opioid receptor activation by bunitrolol.
1. We examined the preganglionic splanchnic nerve activity and postganglionic renal nerve activity before and after a local injection of naloxone (20 micrograms/kg) into the coeliac ganglion of anaesthetized rabbits. This was done during graded hypertension, induced by the administration of phenylephrine (0.5-10 micrograms/kg, i.v.) and with selective intraganglionic injection of methionine-enkephalin (ME) and bunitrolol, which is a beta-blocker. 2. During hypertension both pre- and postganglionic discharge decreased, but only postganglionic discharge was inhibited by naloxone treatment into the ganglion. 3. Local injection of ME (0.1-10 micrograms/kg) into the coeliac ganglion decreased postganglionic activity by 9.0 +/- 1.0 to 41.2 +/- 4.7% from control, and this decrease was inhibited by naloxone. 4. Administration of bunitrolol (1-300 micrograms/kg) decreased postganglionic discharge by 3.9 +/- 1.4 to 39.7 +/- 2.4% of the control and this decrease was also inhibited by naloxone. 5. These results suggest that opioid receptors in the coeliac ganglion play an inhibitory role in neural ganglionic transmission and that this inhibitory action reduces postganglionic sympathetic discharge.
Horiuchi
J
J
Department of Physiology, Yamanashi Medical College, Japan.
Terada
N
N
Takeuchi
T
T
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011412:Propanolamines; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D009270:Naloxone; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine