title: Activity of adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A contributes to morphine-induced spinal apoptosis.
abstract: Our previous study has shown that chronic morphine exposure induces neuronal apoptosis within the spinal cord dorsal horn; however, the mechanisms of morphine-induced apoptosis remain unclear. Here we examined whether adenylyl cyclase (AC) and protein kinase A (PKA) would play a role in this process. Intrathecal morphine regimen (10 microg, twice daily x 7 days) that resulted in antinociceptive tolerance induced spinal apoptosis as revealed by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-UTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). The TUNEL-positive cells were detected primarily in the superficial laminae of the spinal cord dorsal horn, which was associated with an increase in the expression of activated caspase-3 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) within the same spinal region. Co-administration of morphine with a broad AC inhibitor (ddA), a PKA inhibitor (H89), or a MAPK inhibitor (PD98059) substantially reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells, as compared with the morphine alone group. The results indicate that the spinal AC and PKA pathway through intracellular MAPK may be contributory to the cellular mechanisms of morphine-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Pain Research Group, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Suite WACC 324, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Grewo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Shuxing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jeong-Ae
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jianren
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009020:Morphine / Q000633:toxicity*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009498:Neurotoxins; D009020:Morphine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases