title: Opioid-dopamine interaction in planaria: a behavioral study.
abstract: The behavioral response of planaria to the exposure to selective opioid agonists was studied. The mu agonist [d-ala2, N-methyl-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO) and the 6 agonist [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) failed to alter motor activity at all doses tested. Low doses of the selective kappa agonist (+/-)-trans-U-50-trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N[2-(1-pyrrodinyl)-cyclohexyl]benzene acetamide methasulphonate (U50, 488) and bremazocine-HCl increased motor activity leading to C-like position (CLP) and screw-like hyperkinesia (SLH). These changes were identical to those seen previously with the exposure to D2 or D1 dopamine receptor agonists, respectively. Higher doses of kappa agonists produced the enhancement of CLP and SLH together with robust snake-like movements (SLM). This latter response, that was typical of stimulation of kappa opioid receptors, was blocked by co-exposure to naloxone or the selective kappa antagonist Nor-binaltorphimine (Nor-BNI). Finally, co-exposure to sulpiride or SH-23390 respectively blocked the CLP or SLH response produced by U50,488 or bremazocine. Our data indicate the presence of kappa opioid receptors in planaria and suggest the functional interaction between the opioid and dopamine system in this simple animal model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Passarelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merante
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Pontieri
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Margotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palladini
mesh_terms: D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001575:Benzomorphans / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010932:Planarians / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001575:Benzomorphans; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D013469:Sulpiride; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; C027248:bremazocine; D004298:Dopamine