Caramiphen: a non-opioid antitussive with potent anticonvulsant properties in rats

The effect of the non-opioid antitussive caramiphen was studied in the rat maximal electroshock test. Caramiphen produced a dose- and time-dependent blockade of tonic hindlimb extension and was nearly twice as potent as the prototypical anticonvulsant drug diphenylhydantoin. Pretreatment with a subthreshold-effective dose of caramiphen potentiated the anticonvulsant effects of diphenylhydantoin, lowering its ED50 33-fold. The anticonvulsant effects of caramiphen were not associated with its cholinolytic activity since (a) its anticonvulsant effects were not antagonized by physostigmine and (b) the more potent cholinolytic atropine was only weakly effective against maximal electroshock convulsions when tested at doses 25 times the minimally effective dose of caramiphen. Anticonvulsant effects of caramiphen were associated with minimal behavioral impairment. The results demonstrate that caramiphen is a potent anticonvulsant against generalized convulsions and, like other non-opioid antitussives, will enhance the anticonvulsant properties of diphenylhydantoin. It is suggested that the anticonvulsant effects of caramiphen result from specific binding to brain receptors labelled by the non-opioid antitussive dextromethorphan, and that the interactions with diphenylhydantoin involve allosteric interactions between the different binding sites.

Dextromethorphan binding sites in the guinea pig brain

1. Dextromethorphan (DM), a dextrorotatory nonopioid antitussive, binds to specific high-affinity sites in the central nervous system. These sites are distinct from the opioid and other known neurotransmitter receptor sites. Antitussives such as carbetapentane and caramiphen also bind to DM sites with a nanomolar affinity. 2. The anticonvulsant drugs phenytoin and ropizine produce an allosteric enhancement of the binding of [3H]DM to guinea pig brain. DM, carbetapentane, and caramiphen also are efficacious anticonvulsant agents in the rat maximal electroshock seizures test, and DM enhances the anticonvulsant effects of phenytoin (PHT). 3. These results suggest that drugs that bind to the DM sites could be used alone as anticonvulsants or in combination with PHT to lower its effective dose and reduce its side effects. 4. The investigation of the DM binding sites may help to open new approaches for the treatment of convulsive disorders and to explain further some of the molecular mechanisms of neutronal excitability.

Cross-dependence to opioid and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonists in NG108-15 cells

Clonidine, a partial alpha 2-agonist, has been used empirically to alleviate opiate withdrawal symptoms, but the mechanism of its effects is not completely understood. We studied the interactions of opioid and adrenergic receptor agonists in the NG108-15 cells, which are a model of opiate dependence. We determined that in these cells the adenylate cyclase (AC) [EC 4.6.1.1; ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing) overshoot response to opioid or alpha 2-agonist withdrawal can be significantly attenuated or suppressed by the other agonist. Subsequently, the AC overshoot response can be triggered with the antagonist to the second agonist to which the cells were not dependent. These results demonstrate that convergent dependence to morphine and alpha 2 agonists can occur in a homogeneous cell population without neuronal loops. Therefore, the basic mechanisms that can account for convergent dependence in this model take place at the level of intracellular regulatory pathways that do not require neuronal networks.

Naloxone elicits an excitatory response in the morphine-tolerant mouse vas deferens

The effects of naloxone on the electrically stimulated vas deferens from mice implanted with morphine (tolerant) or placebo (naive) pellets were studied. In tolerant vas deferens, naloxone produced an 86.6% increase of the twitch contractions when the preparations were stimulated with 15 V, while only a 12% increase was observed with supramaximal voltage (40 V). Naloxone had no effect at either voltage in preparations from naive animals. The effect of morphine in naive vas deferens stimulated with 15 V, was reversed by naloxone without further increase over baseline contractions. The results suggest that opioid receptors other than those located in the neuronal soma and/or coupled to adenylate cyclase may be involved in the development of dependence.

Allosteric modulation of dextromethorphan binding sites

The nonopioid antitussives dextromethorphan (DM), carbetapentane and caramiphen are efficacious anticonvulsant agents in the rat MES test. The findings presented strongly suggest the existence of a novel allosteric mechanism by which drugs acting at two different but interacting sites, exert their effects. This mechanism has marked similarities with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-benzodiazepine interactions, even though their binding sites are different. The allosteric interactions of dextromethorphan and phenytoin in the binding assay and the potentiation of the anticonvulsant effects of phenytoin by dextromethorphan suggest that drugs that bind to the dextromethorphan sites could be used to reduce the effective dose of phenytoin and reduce its side effects, at least those which are not an extension of its specific pharmacological actions. It is evident that the investigation of the molecular mechanisms described may help to open new approaches to understand and treat convulsive disorders, to find novel anticonvulsant drugs and to further explain some of the molecular mechanisms of neuronal excitability.

N-ethylmaleimide blocks the modulatory effects of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides on the brain substance P receptor

The binding of [3H]physalaemin ([3H]PHY) to rat brain substance P receptors is modulated by cations and guanine nucleotides. [3H]PHY binding in the presence of either monovalent or divalent cations (125 mM Na2SO4 or 2.5 mM MnCl2) shows a KD of 5.9 and 5.5 nM and a Bmax of 44.4 and 63.9 fmol/mg protein respectively. In the presence of both, there is a 2-fold increase in the affinity (KD 2.8 nM) and a 25-80% increase in the Bmax (81.6 fmol/mg protein). Addition of 100 microM GTP or Gpp(NH)p in either 125 mM Na2SO4 or 2.5 mM MnCl2 or both decreases the Bmax by 25-55%. However, the receptor affinity for [3H]PHY is not significantly altered by guanine nucleotides. N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM) irreversibly inhibits the receptor binding with an IC50 of 1.0 mM, demonstrating that SH groups play a critical role in the interaction of the ligand with the receptor. If the SP receptors are protected with 1 microM PHY, NEM irreversibly inhibits the effect of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides. Analysis of [3H]PHY binding in 125 mM Na2SO4, 2.5 mM MnCl2 on membranes that were protected with 1 microM PHY and then preincubated with NEM demonstrates a variable decline in receptor number and a 2-fold decrease in the affinity (KD, from 2.8 to 6.9 nM). These observations indicate the existence of a second class of SH groups that are essential for the interaction of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides with the receptor. The blockade of the modulatory effects of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides by NEM treatment further suggests that brain SP receptors are coupled to a guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein.

Dextromethorphan and carbetapentane: centrally acting non-opioid antitussive agents with novel anticonvulsant properties

The non-opioid antitussives dextromethorphan and carbetapentane, the active ingredients of several over-the-counter cough suppressants, provide a dose-related protection against maximal electroshock seizures in rats. Both drugs, which bind with high affinity to the same site in the brain, potentiated the effects of the prototypic antiepileptic drug diphenylhydantoin. We propose that these novel anticonvulsant drugs may represent potentially useful therapeutic agents for the treatment of some forms of epilepsy, either alone or in combination with existing antiepileptic drugs.

The adenylate cyclase rebound response to naloxone in the NG108-15 cells. Effects of etorphine and other opiates

The adenylate cyclase (AC) of the neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells (NG108-15), is generally considered to be a model for the study of the biochemical correlates of opiate tolerance and dependence. However, the naloxone-induced rebound response of adenylate cyclase, described in some recent reports, is much smaller than that originally described by Sharma, Klee and Nirenberg (1975). Possible explanations for these discrepancies are: (1) a marked down-regulation of opioid receptors and tolerance produced by the use of delta agonists or (2) the use of etorphine, a relatively hydrophobic drug which has slower dissociation rates than morphine. To test these possibilities, neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells were treated cells with morphine, etorphine, [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE), [D-Ala2]Leu-enkephalinamide (DALAMID) or vehicle. In addition, some of the cells treated with etorphine were washed with DADLE to replace the etorphine without producing the rebound response of adenylate cyclase prior to the addition of naloxone. The cells treated with morphine, DADLE and DALAMID, and incubated with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and naloxone showed a significant rebound of adenylate cyclase when compared with control groups and opiate-treated cells, incubated only with PGE1. In contrast, naloxone did not induce any significant rebound response in cells treated with etorphine unless they were previously washed with DADLE. These results demonstrate that the lack of a rebound response in cells treated with etorphine was due to the slow dissociation rates of the opiate and not to tolerance or to down-regulation of opioid receptors produced by agonists of high intrinsic activity.

Specific binding of [3H]substance P to the rat submaxillary gland. The effects of ions and guanine nucleotides

[3H]Substance P ([3H]SP), in a high ionic strength incubation medium, binds to a single class of saturable, noninteracting binding sites on rat submaxillary gland membranes with a KD = 2.8 +/- 0.34 nM and maximum binding (Bmax) = 220 +/- 31 fmol/mg of protein. The rank order of potency of various tachykinins, SP fragments and analogs to compete against [3H]SP is correlated with their potency to induce salivation. These findings indicate that, under the conditions described, [3H]SP binds to a physiologically relevant tachykinin receptor of the SP-P subtype. [3H]SP binding increases by 35% in the presence of optimal concentrations of Mn++ and Mg++ whereas guanine nucleotides reduce [3H]SP binding. The effect produced by either divalent cations or guanine nucleotides is due to increasing or decreasing the Bmax, respectively, without changing the affinity of [3H]SP. Guanine nucleotides reduce the Bmax of [3H]SP to the same level in the presence or absence of divalent cations, indicating that divalent cations increase the population of SP receptors that are sensitive to guanine nucleotides. In low ionic strength media, and when the nonspecific binding is defined by 1 microM SP, [3H]SP binds to two sites: a high affinity site with a KD of 0.14 nM and a Bmax of 370 fmol/mg of protein and a low affinity high capacity site. When the nonspecific binding is defined by 1 microM physalaemin, the high affinity is the only detectable site. However, in low ionic strength media, physalaemin has about one-fiftieth the potency of SP in competing with [3H]SP. These results prove that increasing the ionic strength of the media reduces the affinity of SP and some of its fragments and allows the determination of physiologically relevant SP-P binding sites.

Specific labeling of rat brain substance P receptor with [3H]physalaemin

The binding of [3H]physalaemin [( 3H]PHY) to rat brain membranes is specific, saturable and reversible in the presence of monovalent cations and peptidase inhibitors. Monovalent cations increase the binding of [3H]PHY in an ionic strength (mu)-dependent manner with an optimal effect at mu higher than 0.3. Addition of 2.5 mM MnCl2 results in a 2-fold increase in the affinity (KD) and a 40% increase in the maximal receptor density (Bmax). Scatchard analysis under these conditions indicates the existence of a single population of noninteracting sites with KD of 3.6 nM and a Bmax of 76 fmol/mg of protein. Substance P (SP) and physalaemin are equipotent in inhibiting the binding of [3H]PHY, whereas the potency of SP(2-11), SP(3-11), and SP(4-11) decreased in inverse proportion to their length. The relative affinity of the different tachykinins, SP, and SP fragments in competing with [3H]PHY correlates with their potency to stimulate several bioassay systems, indicating that [3H]PHY labels a physiologically relevant binding site that correspond to the SP-P tachykinin receptor. Guanine nucleotides completely abolish the increase in the binding of [3H]PHY produced by 2.5 mM MnCl2, but in its absence, the nucleotides reduce binding only by 15%. Guanine nucleotides reduce binding to the same level regardless of the presence or absence of the divalent cation. Regional distribution studies confirm that the density of SP receptors is maximal in the olfactory bulb, followed by the hypothalamus, striatum, hippocampus, cortex, and cerebellum.

Specific binding of [3H-Tyr8]physalaemin to rat submaxillary gland substance P receptor

[3H]Physalaemin [( 3H]PHY) binds to a single class of noninteracting sites on rat submaxillary gland membranes suspended in high ionic strength media with a KD of 2.7 nM, a Bmax of 240 fmol/mg of protein, and low nonspecific binding. The relative potencies of substance P (SP) and its fragments in competing with [3H]PHY correlate with their relative salivation potencies. This indicates that [3H]PHY interacts with a physiologically relevant SP receptor. In low ionic strength media, the KD of [3H]PHY does not change, but SP and some of its fragments are more potent than PHY in competing with [3H] PHY. Computer-assisted analysis of [3H]PHY and [3H]SP binding in high and low ionic strength media demonstrated that both peptides are equipotent in high ionic strength but that the affinity of SP increases by 70-fold in low ionic strength. The SP fragments that contain a basic residue in positions 1 and/or 3 also display an increased affinity in low ionic strength. These findings document that [3H]PHY binding in high ionic strength (mu = 0.6) accurately reflects the pharmacological potencies of agonists on the SP-P receptor. The binding of [3H]PHY, like that of [3H]SP, increases by the addition of divalent cations (Mg2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Mn2+). Guanine nucleotides decrease [3H]PHY binding by decreasing the Bmax to the same level (160 fmol/mg of protein), in the presence or absence of Mg2+.

The effect of tolerance on opiate dependence as measured by the adenylate cyclase rebound response to naloxone in the NG108-15 model system

The naloxone-induced adenylate cyclase rebound response produced by opiates in the NG108-15 cells is quite apparent after 48 h treatment with M but it is undetectable after incubation with the high intrinsic activity agonist etorphine. Replacement of agonists by antagonists in receptors that have been rendered inactive by tolerance does not elicit the AC rebound response, which is considered a biochemical correlate of dependence. This indicates that marked tolerance and receptor down-regulation induced by prolonged treatment with high efficacy agonists may reduce the level of dependence.

Specific binding of a 125I-labeled substance P analog to rat submaxillary gland

The substance P (SP) analog [tyrosine1, norleucine11]-substance P [( Tyr1, Nle11]-SP) was iodinated by the chloramine-T method to yield the mono iodinated derivative; both peptides were biologically active on the guinea-pig ileum SP receptor. Saturable, reversible binding of [125l-Tyr1, Nle11]-SP to a single class of noninteracting sites on the rat submaxillary gland homogenate was demonstrated with an affinity of 9.26 +/- 0.8 nM and a maximum binding of 15.7 +/- 1.25 or 250 +/- 20 fmol/mg of protein. The relative potencies of SP and its fragments SP(2-11) and SP(4-11), as measured by their IC50, are in agreement with their rank order in the salivation assay, whereas physalaemin was found apparently weaker than expected. However, their rank order in displacing [125I-Tyr1, Nle11]-SP was identical to their rank order in displacing [125I-Bolton-Hunter]-SP bound to mouse mesencephalic cells in primary culture.

Failure of opiates to increase the hydrolysis of GTP in neuroblastoma-glioma 108-15 cells

It has been repeatedly demonstrated that the neuroblastoma-glioma (NG 108-15) cell line has opiate receptors that inhibit adenylate cyclase and it has been proposed that this inhibition is mediated by a naloxone reversible stimulation of a low Km GTPase (Koski and Klee, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 78:4185, 1981). The guanine nucleotides of NG cells were labeled with [3H]guanine followed by incubation with 10(-6)M guanine. Etorphine (10(-6)M) or vehicle were added and the incubations continued for 1-4 min. The reaction was stopped with 5 percent TCA containing nucleotides as carriers and markers for the HPLC. Marker nucleotides were detected at 254 nm and the labeled nucleotides by liquid scintillation spectrometry. In several experiments, etorphine failed to produce any measurable change in the labeled nucleotides or in the GTP/GDP ratios. To verify that the opiate receptors were functional we measured its capacity to inhibit the formation of cAMP induced by PGE1. We also studied the effects of naloxone and PGE1 on the formation of cAMP in opiate tolerant cells. Tolerant cells responded to naloxone with a 50 percent increase in cAMP, indicating again that the opiate receptors were functional. Our results are consistent with the idea that in intact NG108-15 cells the opiate-mediated hydrolysis of GTP observed in cell membrane preparations is of very small magnitude.

High-affinity dextromethorphan binding sites in guinea pig brain. I. Initial characterization

Tritiated dextromethorphan ([3H]DM) binds to two distinct sites in guinea pig brain, a high-affinity site (Kd = 13-20 nM) and a low-affinity site (Kd greater than 200 nM). Binding of [3H] DM to the high-affinity site is rapid, reversible, saturable, proportional to tissue concentration, and pH-dependent. The sites have a protein-like component, since preincubating brain homogenate in the presence of proteolytic enzymes and protein-modifying reagents significantly reduces binding. There is also a progressive loss of binding when brain homogenate is heated to temperatures in excess of 37 degrees. Millimolar concentrations of lithium, calcium, magnesium, and manganese decrease DM binding while sodium, in concentrations as high as 100 mM, has little effect; calcium in micromolar concentrations slightly enhances binding. The pons-medulla and cerebellum contain the highest density of sites. Subcellular localization studies have shown that high-affinity sites are confined almost exclusively to the microsomal fraction. Binding of DM to brain microsomes does not appear to be related to drug-metabolizing enzymes. The characteristics of DM binding suggest that DM sites are not a subclass of opiate receptors. Studies using tritiated dextrorphan as radioligand failed to reveal a high-affinity binding site for in brain.

The determination of dissociation constants for substance P and substance P analogues in the guinea pig ileum by pharmacological procedures

The dissociation constants (Kd values) of substance P (SP), physalaemin, kassinin, and SP analogues acting on SP receptors in guinea pig ileal longitudinal muscle strips were determined by the pharmacological procedures of Furchgott [Adv. Drug Res. 3:21-55 (1966)]. This method involves analysis of the concentration-response data before and after fractional inactivation of receptors with phenoxybenzamine (2 X 10(-5) M). Estimations of the Kd values for SP were similar when phenoxybenzamine was incubated for 10, 13, or 15 min. Coincubation with high concentrations of SP protected against receptor inactivation with phenoxybenzamine, but bradykinin and serotonin did not cross-protect SP receptors. Kd values for SP were similar when trypsin was substituted for phenoxybenzamine [Kd = 8.1 +/- 4 nM (n = 9) versus 10 +/- 6 nM (n = 5)]. In atropinized preparations the Kd values obtained for physalaemin were similar to those obtained for untreated preparations [Kd = 8.0 +/- 3.6 nM (n = 5) and 12.6 +/- 3 nM (n = 4), respectively]. The effects of phenoxybenzamine on concentration-response curves for kassinin showed greater shifts to the right with phenoxybenzamine. This indicated that kassinin may interact with another population of receptors, in addition to the sites that SP and other analogues bind. A direct correlation was found between EC50 values and Kd values and Kd values for SP and SP analogues. It was estimated that, for SP, a 20% receptor occupancy is required to elicit a 50% response.

High-affinity dextromethorphan binding sites in guinea pig brain. II. Competition experiments

Binding of dextromethorphan (DM) to guinea pig brain is stereoselective, since levomethorphan is 20 times weaker than DM in competing for DM sites. In general, opiate agonists and antagonists as well as their corresponding dextrorotatory isomers are weak competitors for tritiated dextromethorphan ([3H]DM) binding sites and display IC50 values in the micromolar range. In contrast, several non-narcotic, centrally acting antitussives are inhibitory in the nanomolar range (IC50 values for caramiphen, carbetapentane, dimethoxanate, and pipazethate are 25 nM, 9 nM, 41 nM, and 190 nM, respectively). Other antitussives, such as levopropoxyphene, chlophedianol, and fominoben, have poor affinity for DM sites whereas the antitussive noscapine enhances DM binding by increasing the affinity of DM for its central binding sites. Additional competition studies indicate that there is no correlation of DM binding with any of the known or putative neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. DM binding is also not related to tricyclic antidepressant binding sites or biogenic amine uptake sites. However, certain phenothiazine neuroleptics and typical and atypical antidepressants inhibit binding with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. Moreover, the anticonvulsant drug diphenylhydantoin enhances DM binding in a manner similar to that of noscapine. Preliminary experiments utilizing acid extracts of brain have not demonstrated the presence of an endogenous ligand for DM sites. The binding characteristics of DM sites studied in rat and mouse brain indicate that the relative potencies of several antitussives to inhibit specific DM binding vary according to species. High-affinity, saturable, and stereoselective [3H]DM binding sites are present in liver homogenates, but several differences have been found for these peripheral binding sites and those described for brain. Although the nature of central DM binding sites is not known, the potent interaction of several classes of centrally acting antitussives with DM sites suggests that they may be related to the mechanism of action of this drug.

Processing of enkephalin precursors by chromaffin granule enzymes

Subcellular localization studies indicate that the enzyme activities which cleave enkephalins from larger polypeptides are located in both membranous and soluble components of the chromaffin granules and not in the lysosomes. Cleavage of endogenous precursors produced methionine enkephalin [Met-E], leucine enkephalin [Leu-E], and Met-E-Arg6. Cleavage of synthetic peptide E produced Leu-E, Met-E, and Met-E-Arg6. The pH optimum for enkephalin production is pH 5.7. Dithiothreitol prevents the inhibition of enkephalin conversion produced by p-chloromecurobenzoate. Studies with peptide E indicate that cleavage appears to occur at pairs of basic amino acid residues. The presence of enkephalin producing enzymes with the precursors and the products in the chromaffin granules could be important in the elucidation of the factors that regulate enkephalin biosynthesis.

Hydrolysis of substance P and bradykinin by black widow spider venom gland extract

Black widow spider venom gland extract was found to contain significant peptidase activity. Aliquots of the venom gland extract incubated at 37 degrees inactivated substance P (SP) and bradykinin but not angiotensin II or the enkephalins. The peptide inactivation was proportional to the duration of the incubation and the amount of extract used. Analysis of the peptides on high pressure liquid chromatography demonstrated that the loss in biological activity of SP and bradykinin in the longitudinal muscle of the guinea pig ileum was correlated with cleavage of the peptides into several fragments. Kinetic studies revealed that SP was initially split into two fragments but that these products underwent further degradation into smaller peptides. The optimal pH for the peptidase activity was 6.5. At 0 degree the enzymatic activity was undetectable, and it was irreversibly destroyed by incubation at 100 degrees for 5 min or by pretreatment of the extract with 100 microM diisopropyl fluorophosphate. In addition, the gland extract preparation hydrolyzed artificial substrates designed to detect trypsin or chymotrypsin-like activity.

Fading and tachyphylaxis to the contractile effects of substance P in the guinea-pig ileum

Substance P (SP) caused an immediate and vigorous contraction of the longitudinal smooth muscle layer of the guinea-pig ileum. The contractile response to SP, unlike that to acetylcholine or histamine was not maintained but faded to baseline levels in about 6 min. When 0.3-1.0 nM SP was added the fading time was shorter than 6 min and tachyphylaxis did not develop. Higher concentrations of SP produced fading times of about 6 min that could not be increased even by adding extremely high concentrations of the peptide, up to 1800 nM. Short fading times and the lack of development of tachyphylaxis are the result of the rapid adsorption and/or metabolism of SP. The addition of exogenous peptidases such as pronase, chymotrypsin and an extract of black widow spider venom gland dramatically increased the rate of degradation of SP, shortened the fading response and blocked the development of tachyphylaxis. Tetrodotoxin and atropine reduced the fading time by 25%, while eserine increased its duration several-fold; these findings are consistent with the existence of a cholinergic nerve component in the mediation of some of the effects of SP receptor and, in part, to adsorption and metabolism of the peptide. The magnitude of the tachyphylaxis to SP was proportional to the concentration of the desensitizing dose of the peptide and was specific to SP and to the related peptide physalaemin; no cross-tachyphylaxis towards other agents was found.

Naloxone reversal of insulin-induced hypotension in reserpine pretreated rats

The administration of insulin caused a gradual lowering of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in anaesthetized reserpinized rats. Injection of 1 mg/kg naloxone at the peak of the hypotension resulted in immediate restoration of blood pressure to pre-insulin control values. The recovery of the arterial blood pressure caused by naloxone lasted for 5 to 10 min and was entirely dependent on the reserpine pretreatment. The lowering of the blood pressure caused by insulin and the increase in systemic blood pressure after naloxone were of about the same magnitude in rats with bilateral denervation of the adrenal glands as in sham operated rats. It is concluded that in anaesthetized reserpinized rats, hypoglycemia causes the release of opiate-like material that mediates a hypotensive response. The origin, nature and site of action of this opioid activity is as yet not established, but does not appear to derive from the adrenal gland.

Electrically induced opiate-like inhibition of the guinea-pig ileum: cross-tolerance to morphine

The guinea-pig myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle (MPLM) preparation electrically stimulated at 0.1 Hz is very sensitive to the inhibitory effects of opiates. We used this preparation to detect an inhibitory response (IR) which was produced by electrical stimulation at 5 to 20 Hz. The magnitude and duration of the IR are determined by the parameters of the stimulation, mainly by the frequency and duration of the period of stimulation. Maximal IR is obtained with symmetrical biphasic stimuli of 2 msec duration and supramaximal voltage at 20 Hz applied for a period of about 5 min. The IR is calcium-dependent, cannot be attenuated by washing and is mediated by several components. About 55 to 70% of the IR can be reversed by specific narcotic antagonists and therefore it is considered to be produced by the release of endorphins. There are at least two additional components, one small, adrenergic in nature, and a third one which has not been identified. The offset rate of the IR is measured in minutes, while enkephalin and human beta-endorphin have half-lives of 10 and 85 sec, respectively, after washing. This suggests that the endorphin that mediates the opiate component of the IR may be a different one with slower offset rates. Myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle strips obtained from guinea pigs which were made tolerant to morphine by subcutaneous implantation of three pellets were cross-tolerant to the opiate component of the IR elicited by electrical stimulation.