title: Activation of c-fos expression in the heart after morphine but not U-50,488H withdrawal.
abstract: 1. In the present work we have studied in the heart the expression of Fos, the protein product of the c-fos proto-oncogene and the adaptive changes in noradrenergic neurons after naloxone or nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) administration to morphine or U-50,488H pretreated rats. 2. Male rats were implanted with placebo (naïve) or morphine (tolerant/dependent) pellets for 7 days. On day 8 rats received saline s.c., naloxone (5 mg kg(-1) s.c.) or nor-BNI (5 mg kg(-1) i.p.). Other groups of rats were rendered tolerant/dependent on U-50,488H by injecting the drug twice daily (15 mg kg(-1) i.p.) for 4 days. Control animals received saline. On day 5 the animals were injected with vehicle i.p. or nor-BNI (5 mg kg(-1) i.p.). 3. Using immunohistochemical staining of Fos, present results indicate that morphine withdrawal induced marked Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) within the cardiomyocyte nuclei. Moreover, Western blots analysis revealed a peak expression of c-fos in right and left ventricle after naloxone induced withdrawal in parallel with an increase in noradrenaline (NA) turnover. 4. However, after nor-BNI administration to rats chronically treated with U-50,488H, we found a decrease in the NA turnover. In addition, the administration of nor-BNI to rats chronically treated with U-50,488H or morphine did not induce modifications in the Fos-IR, in the heart. 5. These results demonstrated that morphine withdrawal induces the expression of Fos protein, as well as an enhancement of noradrenergic activity in the heart. In contrast to morphine U-50,488 withdrawal produces no changes in Fos-IR in parallel with a decrease in NA turnover, indicating that the kappa-opioid receptors are not involved in the molecular adaptive mechanisms responsible for the development of opioid dependence in the heart.
authors.affiliation: Equip of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Cuello
authors.forename: M Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Milanés
authors.forename: M Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Castells
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Laorden
mesh_terms: D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D009020:Morphine