title: Cyclo(Gly-Gln) inhibits the cardiorespiratory depression produced by beta-endorphin and morphine.
abstract: Glycyl-L-glutamine (Gly-Gln; beta-endorphin 30-31) is an endogenous dipeptide that is synthesized through the post-translational processing of beta-endorphin. Previously, we showed that Gly-Gln inhibits the hypotension and respiratory depression produced by central beta-endorphin administration. In this study, we tested whether cyclo(Gly-Gln), a non-polar, cyclic Gly-Gln derivative, was similarly effective following intracerebro-ventricular (i.c.v.) or intra-arterial (i.a.) administration to pentobarbital-anesthetized rats pretreated with beta-endorphin (0.5 nmol i.c.v.). Intracerebroventricular cyclo(Gly-Gln) (0.3, 0.6 or 1.0 nmol) injection produced a dose-dependent inhibition of beta-endorphin-induced hypotension, but not bradycardia, with a potency similar to that of Gly-Gln. Cyclo(Gly-Gln) (5 mg/kg) was also effective following i.a. injection and significantly attenuated the fall in arterial pressure elicited by i.c.v. beta-endorphin, consistent with evidence that cyclic dipeptides permeate the blood-brain barrier; i.a. Gly-Gln was ineffective. Intra-arterial cyclo(Gly-Gln) (5 mg/kg) and i.c.v. Gly-Gln (10 nmol) also attenuated the hypotension and respiratory depression induced by morphine (50 or 100 nmol i.c.v.). Cyclo(Gly-Gln) (0.5, 5.0 or 50.0 mg/kg i.a.) had no effect on arterial pressure or heart rate when given alone. These findings indicate that cyclo(Gly-Gln) is a biologically active peptide capable of reversing the cardiorespiratory depression produced by beta-endorphin or morphine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City 64108-2792, USA.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Millington
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D009020:Morphine