title: Characterization of opioid peptides and opioid receptors in the brain of jerboa (Jaculus orientalis), a hibernating rodent.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to investigate the biochemical characteristics of the opioid receptors and opioid peptides in the jerboa (Jaculus orientalis) brain, a subdesert rodent of Morocco. We have demonstrated the presence of delta, mu, and kappa sites in the jerboa brain. The endogenous opioid peptides methionine-enkephalin, beta-endorphin, and dynorphin were evaluated in different physiological states of the animal (active and hibernating). The circulating methionine-enkephalin in different states of the animal (active, hibernating, exposure to cold conditions, and fasting) was evaluated in the plasma. Our results indicate that the hibernating state the opioid receptors level decreased, whereas the concentration of opioid peptides increased. These findings suggest that both opioid receptors and opioid peptides could be involved in the adaptation of the jerboa to survive under thermal stress.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie, Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire (Unité de Biochimie) Faculté des Sciences Ain chock, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bourhim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kabine
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Elkebbaj
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003889:Desert Climate; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000378:metabolism; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006605:Hibernation; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000378:metabolism*; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000378:metabolism*; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000378:metabolism*; D012377:Rodentia; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018847:Opioid Peptides; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D004399:Dynorphins