title: Respiratory and cardiovascular effects of the mu-opioid receptor agonist [Lys7]dermorphin in awake rats.
abstract: 1. Changes in respiratory variables, arterial blood pressure and heart rate were studied in awake rats after injection of the opioid peptide [Lys7]dermorphin and its main metabolites, [1-5]dermorphin and [1-4]dermorphin. 2. Fifteen minutes after injection, doses of [Lys7]dermorphin producing antinociception (i.c.v., 36-120 nmol; s.c., 0.12-4.7 micromol kg(-1)) significantly increased respiratory frequency and minute volume of rats breathing air or hypoxic inspirates. This respiratory stimulation was reversed to depression by the 5-HT receptor antagonist ritanserin (2 mg kg(-1), s.c.), was blocked by naloxone (0.1 mg kg(-1), s.c.), significantly reduced by the mu1 opioid receptor antagonist naloxonazine (10 mg kg(-1), s.c., 24 h before) but unaffected by peripherally acting opioid antagonist naloxone methyl bromide (3 mg kg(-1), s.c.). Forty five minutes after injection, doses of the peptide producing catalepsy (s.c., 8.3-14.2 micromol kg(-1), i.c.v., 360 nmol) significantly reduced respiratory frequency and volume of rats breathing air and blocked the hypercapnic ventilator response of rats breathing from 4% to 10% CO2. I.c.v. administration of [1-5]dermorphin and [1-4]dermorphin (from 36 to 360 nmol) never stimulated respiration but significantly reduced basal and CO2-stimulated ventilation. Opioid respiratory depression was only antagonized by naloxone. 3. In awake rats, [Lys7]dermorphin (0.1-1 mg kg(-1), s.c.) decreased blood pressure. This hypotensive response was abolished by naloxone, reduced by naloxone methyl bromide and unaffected by naloxonazine. 4. In conclusion, the present study indicates that analgesic doses of [Lys7]dermorphin stimulate respiration by activating central mu1 opioid receptors and this respiratory stimulation involves a forebrain 5-hydroxytryptaminergic excitatory pathway.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Pharmacology, University La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lattanzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabacco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melchiorri
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists*; D016713:Ritanserin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009842:Oligopeptides; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; C091812:dermorphin, Lys(7)-; C114954:tyrosyl-alanyl--phenylalanyl-glycyl-tyrosine; D016713:Ritanserin; D009270:Naloxone; C041269:N-methylnaloxone; C053416:tyrosyl-alanyl-phenylalanyl-glycine; C034643:naloxonazine