Evidence for the involvement of opioid peptides in phagocytosis, conformation, granulation and aggregation of immunocompetent Lumbricus terrestris amoebocytes.
Opioid peptides and their analogs were shown to enhance Lumbricus terrestris amoebocyte phagocytosis, aggregation, granulation and conformation. These actions appear to be concentration dependent with 10(-8) M met-enkephalin and 10(-6) M dynorphin A having the greatest effect on the earthworm amoebocytes (P < 0.05). Interleukin-1 alpha significantly enhanced met-enkephalin mediated earthworm amoebocyte aggregation; leu-enkephalin mediated phagocytosis and aggregation; DAMA mediated phagocytosis; and U69,593 mediated phagocytosis, aggregation and conformation (P < 0.05). Naloxone generally inhibited these activities indicating opioid receptor mediated mechanisms for earthworm amoebocyte function.
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Quinnipiac College, Hamden, CT 06518, USA.
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Renzelli-Cain
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Kaloustian
D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D009835:Oligochaeta; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010316:Particle Size; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000819:agonists
D000700:Analgesics; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa