title: A novel µ-opioid receptor ligand with high in vitro and in vivo agonist efficacy.
abstract: The aims of this study were to synthesize 14-O-Methylmorphine-6-O-sulfate (14-O-MeM6SU) and examine its opioid properties (potency, affinity, efficacy) in receptor ligand binding and isolated tissues (mouse vas deferens, MVD and rat vas deferens, RVD bioassays). The results were then compared to the parent compounds morphine-6-O-sulfate (M6SU) and morphine, as well as the �- opioid receptor (MOR) selective agonist peptide [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO). An additional objective was to compare the effect of subcutaneously (s.c.) or intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered 14-O-MeM6SU, M6SU and morphine in thermal nociception, rat tail-flick (RTF) test. In MVD, the EC50 (nM) value was 4.38 for 14-O-MeM6SU, 102.81 for M6SU, 346.63 for morphine and 238.47 for DAMGO. The effect of 14-O-MeM6SU and DAMGO was antagonized by naloxone (NAL) with Ke value 1-2.00 nM. The Emax values (%) were 99.10, 36.87, 42.51 and 96.99 for 14-O-MeM6SU, M6SU, morphine and DAMGO, respectively. In RVD 14-O-MeM6SU and DAMGO but not M6SU or morphine showed agonist activity. In binding experiments the affinity of 14-OMeM6SU, M6SU, morphine and DAMGO for MOR was 1.12, 11.48, 4.37 and 3.24 nM, respectively. The selectivity of 14-O-MeM6SU was κ/μ= 269 and δ/μ= 9. In G-protein activation experiments, 14-O-MeM6SU and DAMGO showed higher Emax values than M6SU or morphine. S.c. or i.c.v-injected 14-O-MeM6SU, M6SU and morphine produced a dose and time-dependent increase in RTF response latency. 14-O-MeM6SU was the most potent. Our results showed that introduction of 14-O-Me in M6SU increased the binding affinity, agonist potency, and most importantly, the intrinsic efficacy (Emax).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad Ter 4, P.O. Box 370, H-1445 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lacko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varadi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rapavi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zador
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riba
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benyhe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borsodi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosztafi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Timar
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Noszal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furst
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Khrasani
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003061:Codeine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C579042:14-O-methylmorphine-6-O-sulfate; D000700:Analgesics; D008024:Ligands; D009022:Morphine Derivatives; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; C572396:morphine-6-O-sulfate; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D009020:Morphine; D003061:Codeine