Morphine-induced changes in delta opioid receptor trafficking are linked to somatosensory processing in the rat spinal cord.
An in vivo fluorescent deltorphin (Fluo-DLT) internalization assay was used to assess the distribution and regulation of pharmacologically available delta opioid receptors (deltaORs) in the rat lumbar (L4-5) spinal cord. Under basal conditions, intrathecal injection of Fluo-DLT resulted in the labeling of numerous deltaOR-internalizing neurons throughout dorsal and ventral horns. The distribution and number of Fluo-DLT-labeled perikaryal profiles were consistent with that of deltaOR-expressing neurons, as revealed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, suggesting that a large proportion of these cells was responsive to intrathecally administered deltaOR agonists. Pretreatment of rats with morphine for 48 hr resulted in a selective increase in Fluo-DLT-labeled perikaryal profiles within the dorsal horn. These changes were not accompanied by corresponding augmentations in either deltaOR mRNA or (125)I-deltorphin-II binding levels, suggesting that they were attributable to higher densities of cell surface deltaOR available for internalization rather than to enhanced production of the receptor. Unilateral dorsal rhizotomy also resulted in increased Fluo-DLT internalization in the ipsilateral dorsal horn when compared with the side contralateral to the deafferentation or to non-deafferented controls, suggesting that deltaOR trafficking in dorsal horn neurons may be regulated by afferent inputs. Furthermore, morphine treatment no longer increased Fluo-DLT internalization on either side of the spinal cord after unilateral dorsal rhizotomy, indicating that microOR-induced changes in the cell surface availability of deltaOR depend on the integrity of primary afferent inputs. Together, these results suggest that regulation of deltaOR responsiveness through microOR activation in this region is linked to somatosensory information processing.
Morinville
Anne
A
Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 2B4.
Cahill
Catherine M
CM
Aibak
Haneen
H
Rymar
Vladimir V
VV
Pradhan
Amynah
A
Hoffert
Cyrla
C
Mennicken
Françoise
F
Stroh
Thomas
T
Sadikot
Abbas F
AF
O'Donnell
Dajan
D
Clarke
Paul B S
PB
Collier
Brian
B
Henry
James L
JL
Vincent
Jean-Pierre
JP
Beaudet
Alain
A
D000818:Animals; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000819:agonists / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D019051:Rhizotomy; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009294:Narcotics; D009842:Oligopeptides; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; C060208:deltorphin I, Ala(2)-; C060209:deltorphin II, Ala(2)-; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D009020:Morphine