title: Modulation of kappa-opioid receptor mediated tolerance in the guinea-pig ileum by chronic co-administration of dihydropyridines.
abstract: The influence of the L-type Ca2+ channel modulators nimodipine (a Ca2+ blocker) and BAY K 8644 (a Ca2+ activator) on the expression of tolerance to the inhibitory effects of kappa- and mu-opioid agonists in the guinea-pig ileum from guinea-pigs rendered tolerant to the kappa-opioid receptor agonist U-50,488H was investigated. Tolerance to U-50,488H was induced by its administration (15 mg/kg twice a day) for 4 days. Control groups received saline at the same time schedule. Chronic infusion of guinea-pigs with nimodipine (2 micrograms/microliters/h for 7 days) or BAY K 8644 (0.5 microgram/microliters/h for 7 days), did not cause any modification of the height of contractions induced by electrical stimulation of the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle (MPLM) preparation from naïve guinea-pigs. The Ca2+ antagonist nimodipine increases the potency of U-50,488H (selective kappa agonist) to reduce the amplitude of neurogenic contractions of the MPLM strip in naïve animals, whereas the Ca2+ activator BAY K 8644 induced the opposite effect. However, the effect of DAMGO (selective mu agonist) was not modified in guinea-pigs infused with nimodipine or BAY K 8644. Tolerance to the inhibitory effects of both U-50,488H and DAMGO was observed following administration of U-50,488H for 4 days and was revealed as a rightward shift of the concentration-response curves for the two agonists. Chronic infusion of guinea-pigs with nimodipine concurrently with chronic U-50,488H, markedly attenuated the expression of selective tolerance to U-50,488H as well as the cross-tolerance between U-50,488H and DAMGO. By the contrary, the magnitude of tolerance to U-50,488H and to DAMGO was enhanced by concomitant infusion of BAY K 8644. The results suggest that, in the GPI, kappa-opioid receptor may be functionally linked to the dihydropyridine sensitive Ca2+ channel: The blockade of the channel increased whereas its activation reduced the potency of U-50,488H. In chronic experiments, nimodipine prevented the expression of tolerance to U-50,488H and the cross-tolerance between U-50,488H and DAMGO, whereas BAY K 8644 produced the opposite effect. These results suggest that, in the GPI, selective tolerance to kappa-agonist as well as cross-tolerance between kappa- and mu-opioid agonists would involve activation of L-type Ca2+ channels, which could indicate that intracellular Ca2+ may be the final common pathway through which myenteric neurons adapt to the chronic opioid exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Garaulet
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Laorden
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Milanés
mesh_terms: D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000819:agonists*
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D009553:Nimodipine; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester