Detection and distribution of opioid peptide receptors in porcine myocardial tissue.
There is growing evidence that opioid peptide receptors (OPRs) play an important role in cardiovascular function. Many studies have been conducted in swine, in view of their anatomic and physiologic similarities to humans. Until now, the presence and particularly distribution of OPRs has been unclear. Porcine myocardial tissue was obtained from both the left and right atria and ventricles. Expression of mRNA for μ-, δ- and κ-OPR was determined by reverse transcription PCR. OPR proteins were detected by Western blot, distribution and cellular location were identified using immunohistochemistry. Homogenous expression of mRNA and protein for δ- and κ-OPRs were demonstrated in all porcine myocardial tissue tested, whereas expression of μ-OPR mRNA was not demonstrated in any of the tissues tested. This study demonstrates the expression of δ- and κ-OPRs in porcine myocardial tissue. No differences in distribution of δ- and κ-OPRs were found between the four heart cavities. Modulation of cardiac function by δ- and κ-OPR agonists or antagonists is therefore possible, while μ-OPR-mediated direct cardiac effects appear unlikely, due to nonexpression of the receptor. This study demonstrates that porcine studies can further elucidate the role of OPRs in cardiac (patho-)physiology.
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Raphaelsklinik Muenster, Loerstraße 23, D-48143 Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: mtheisen@uni-muenster.de.
Marc Michael
MM
Theisen
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
Silke
S
Schlottmann
Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
Christian
C
August
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
Christine
C
Herzog
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
Gregor
G
Theilmeier
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
Matthias
M
Maas
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
Jonas Martin
JM
Blumenstiel
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
Thomas Peter
TP
Weber
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
Hugo Karel
HK
Van Aken
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
Kristoffer Tim
KT
Kaerlein
D000818:Animals; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu
Animal model; Myocardium; Opioid peptide receptors; Swine