Effects of nicotine on the concentration of native and cryptic Met- and Leu-enkephalin in peripheral tissues.
The distribution of the native pentapeptides, Met- and Leu-enkephalin, and their cryptic forms (larger enkephalin-containing peptides) in adrenal medulla, spleen, lung, salivary gland, vas deferens, heart, duodenum and jejunum were determined by radioimmunoassay. The proportion of total Met- and Leu-enkephalin represented by native pentapeptide varied markedly among these tissues. Also, the distribution of native and cryptic Met-enkephalin was distinct from that of Leu-enkephalin. Repeated short-term administration of nicotine, 0.1 mg/kg i.p. six times at 30 min intervals, produced significant changes in native and cryptic Met-enkephalin in adrenal medulla, jejunum, vas deferens, spleen and heart. This regimen of nicotine also affected the concentration of Leu-enkephalin in adrenal medulla, jejunum and spleen.
Pierzchała-Koziec
K
K
Department of Animal Physiology, Academy of Agriculture, Cracow, Poland.
Van Loon
G R
GR
D000818:Animals; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D009538:Nicotine