title: Functional opioid receptor sites in human placentas.
abstract: We characterized the presence of opioid peptide receptor sites in plasma membranes and cells from human midterm and term placentas. Incubations with [3H]ethylketo-cyclazocine (EKC) at increasing doses revealed the presence of high affinity, low capacity, opioid peptide receptor-specific binding of the kappa-type. Scatchard analysis of the binding data showed, in the plasma membranes, linear plots at both stages of pregnancy with similar mean equilibrium association constants of 1.31 +/- 0.29 (+/- SE) X 10(9) mol/L-1 (n = 4) at midterm and 0.52 +/- 0.63 X 10(9) mol/L-1 at term (n = 4). In placental cells (n = 4) from term gestations, the binding plots were curvilinear; the first component had a Ka of 5.51 +/- 0.50 X 10(9) mol/L-1, and the second component had a Ka of 1.33 +/- 0.81 X 10(8) mol/L-1 (P less than 0.01). When standardized per mg tissue protein, the number of binding sites in plasma membranes increased from 13.8 +/- 9.8 fmol at midterm to 50.0 +/- 18.6 fmol at term (P less than 0.05). For term placental cells, the concentration of binding sites was 81.2 +/- 36.0 fmol for the high affinity sites and 713 +/- 390 fmol for the lower affinity sites. Specificity for the kappa-type of OPR was found based on the inability of mu- or delta-opioid peptides, as well as LHRH and TRH, to compete for [3H]EKC binding. Term placental cells incubated with various doses of opioid peptides had a 50% increase in placental lactogen production. The increase was significantly higher than controls only with kappa-agonists (P less than 0.05), maximal with 10(-9) mol/L EKC, and completely inhibited by 5 X 10(-6) mol/L naloxone. These results expand on previous data demonstrating the presence of opioid peptide receptor in placental plasma membranes and suggest a role for opioid peptides in regulating secretion of placental lactogen by placental cells.
mesh_terms: D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D003496:Cyclazocine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000378:metabolism; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism; D016314:Ethylketocyclazocine; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010920:Placenta / Q000032:analysis*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000378:metabolism; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016314:Ethylketocyclazocine; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D004399:Dynorphins; D003496:Cyclazocine