title: Morphine and enkephalins potently inhibit [3H]noradrenaline release from rat brain cortex synaptosomes: further evidence for a presynaptic localization of mu-opioid receptors.
abstract: Synaptosomes prepared from rat cerebral cortex and labeled with [3H]noradrenaline (NA) were superfused with calcium-free Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate medium and exposed to 10 mM K+ plus 0.1 mM Ca2+ so that [3H]NA release was induced. 6,7-Dihydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-2-aminotetralin (TL-99) strongly inhibited synaptosomal K+-induced [3H]NA release (EC50 = 5-10 nM) by activating alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Release was also inhibited (maximally by 40-50%) by morphine (EC50 = 5-10 nM), [Leu5]enkephalin (EC50 = approximately 300 nM), [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE), and Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(NMe)Phe-Gly-ol (DAGO) (EC50 values = approximately 30 nM). In contrast to the mu-selective opioid receptor agonists morphine and DAGO, the highly delta-selective agonist [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (1 microM) did not affect [3H]-NA release. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of DADLE, an agonist with affinity for both delta- and mu-opioid receptors, was antagonized by low concentrations of naloxone. The findings strongly support the view that, like alpha 2-adrenoceptors, mu-opioid receptors mediating inhibition of NA release in the rat cerebral cortex are localized on noradrenergic nerve terminals.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism*; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; C016893:2-(N,N-dimethylamino)-6,7-dihydroxytetralin; D009020:Morphine; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine