title: Mechanisms involved in morphine-induced activation of synaptosomal Na+,K+-ATPase.
abstract: Morphine through mu-opioid receptors and G(i/o) proteins modulates several cellular effector systems; however, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase are not well known. We evaluated the effect of two mu-opioid receptor agonists on ouabain-sensitive Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in mice forebrain synaptosomes, and examined the modulation of this effect by antagonists of opioid receptors and a blocker of G(i/o) proteins. Incubation of synaptosomes with morphine (10(-9) to 10(-4) M) or buprenorphine (10(-10) to 10(-5) M) concentration-dependently stimulated Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity, morphine being less potent but more efficacious than buprenorphine. Morphine did not displace [3H]ouabain from its binding site (Na(+),K(+)-ATPase) to forebrain membranes, whereas ouabain did so in a concentration-dependent manner. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist (10(-6) M), added to the synaptosomal medium, antagonized the enhancement of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity induced by morphine, producing a parallel shift to the right of the morphine concentration-response curve. Treatment with beta-funaltrexamine, a mu antagonist (2.5 and 10 microg/mouse, i.c.v.) and naloxonazine, a mu1 antagonist (35 mg/kg, s.c.), 24 h before the synaptosomes were obtained, produced a dose-dependent reduction in the E(max) of the morphine-induced increase in Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in vitro, but did not significantly modify its EC(50). Pertussis toxin (G(i/o) protein blocker) treatment at a dose of 0.5 microg/mouse, administered i.c.v. 5 days before the synaptosomes were obtained, completely abolished the enhancement of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity induced by morphine. A lower dose (0.25 microg/mouse) decreased the E(max) of morphine by 50% but did not significantly affect its EC(50). These results suggest that morphine indirectly enhances Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in the brain by activating mu-opioid receptors and G(i/o) proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Avenida de Madrid 11, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Willias
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Masocha
authors.forename: Luis Gerardo
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baeyens
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D002047:Buprenorphine; D010042:Ouabain; D009020:Morphine; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase