Kappa-opioid receptors on astrocytes stimulate L-type Ca2+ channels.
Cultured astrocytes from the cerebral cortex of the rat respond to opioid kappa-receptor stimulation with a substantial elevation of the cytoplasmic free calcium, visualized through the use of the fluorescent calcium indicator Fura-2. The stimulation of kappa-receptors with U-50488H increases the level of calcium through a dose-related stimulatory effect on the transmembrane calcium influx. The kappa-receptor stimulation was completely blocked by the selective kappa-receptor blocker nor-binaltorphimine. Furthermore, the transmembrane calcium influx was completely blocked by nifedipine, indicating the involvement of L-type channels. The presence of L-type channels was verified by stimulation of L-type channels with Bay K8644. The effects of Bay K8644 were completely blocked by nifedipine. L-type channel-coupled kappa-receptors on astrocytes might represent a novel mechanism contributing to the depressant action of opioids on synaptic transmission via decreasing the availability of extracellular calcium necessary for presynaptic transmitter release.
Eriksson
P S
PS
Institute of Neurobiology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Nilsson
M
M
Wågberg
M
M
Hansson
E
E
Rönnbäck
L
L
D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000700:Analgesics; D015220:Calcium Channels; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D002118:Calcium