title: Endocrine effects of centrally injected nociceptin in the rat.
abstract: In the present study we investigated the mechanisms involved in the endocrine effect of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (OFQ) in the rat and the possible interaction between OFQ and morphine in the control of growth hormone (GH) secretion. The intracerebroventricular administration of OFQ (2.3 or 23 microg/rat, i.c.v.) in freely moving male rats caused an increase in the secretion of both GH and prolactin (PRL). The possible involvement of the catecholaminergic (CA) system was studied by administering OFQ to CA-depleted rats (rats given 200 mg/kg of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine subcutaneously 2 h before the i.c.v. dose of OFQ). In these CA-depleted rats, administration of OFQ (23 microg/rat, i.c.v.) did not stimulate GH secretion, whereas it significantly enhanced PRL secretion. In rats anesthetized with ketamine, which induces a significant increase of GH, PRL and corticosterone secretion by activating the sympathetic tone, OFQ (23 microg/rat, i.c.v.) did not modify GH and corticosterone levels, whereas again it significantly potentiated PRL secretion. Overall these results indicate that CA system is involved in the stimulatory action of OFQ on GH but not on PRL secretion. In fact the stimulation of PRL, but not that of GH, was still evident after impairment of the CA system. Pretreatment with OFQ (23 microg/rat, i.c.v.) attenuated the GH secretion induced by morphine (1 mg/kg, given by intra-arterial injection), thus showing a negative interaction between OFQ and morphine in the control of GH secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Chemotheraphy and Medical Toxicology, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Netti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rapetti
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sibilia
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pecile
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guidobono
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000097629:Nociceptin
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002395:Catecholamines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013006:Growth Hormone; D009020:Morphine; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D011388:Prolactin; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine; D000097629:Nociceptin