title: Substance P-induced respiratory excitation is blunted by delta-receptor specific opioids in the rat medulla oblongata.
abstract: The effects of substance P (SP) and the naturally occurring met-enkephalin and the synthetic mu-specific opioid agonist, DAGO (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-N-Methy-Phe-Gly-ol) and the delta-specific opioid agonist DADL (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-D-Leu) on basal ventilation were investigated in halothane-anaesthetized rats. Local injections of SP (0.75-1.5 nmol) in the ventrolateral medulla oblongata (VLM), e.g. nucleus paragigantocellularis, and nucleus reticularis lateralis increased ventilation because of an elevation of tidal volume. Met-enkephalin induced a short-lasting ventilatory depression mainly because of a depression of tidal volume. Activation of delta- and mu-opioid receptors in the VLM by local application of DADL and DAGO, respectively, induced ventilatory depression, which was later in onset and more long-lasting. Local administration of met-enkephalin into the VLM also produced a long-lasting inhibition of the SP-induced ventilatory excitation. A similar blockade of the SP-induced excitatory ventilatory response could be elicited by DADL but not by DAGO. This antagonistic effect was attenuated by local application of the delta-opioid receptor antagonist ICI 154. 129. We conclude that the naturally occurring met-enkephalin as well as synthetic mu- and delta-specific enkephalin analogues (DAGO and DADL, respectively) in VLM depress basal ventilation by an effect on inspiratory drive. There is a functional antagonism between activation of delta-opioid receptors and SP receptors into the VLM in respect to respiratory regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hedner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hedner
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007267:Injections; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000187:drug effects*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects*; D013373:Substance P / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D004745:Enkephalins; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D013373:Substance P; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; C036405:ICI 154129