Regional distribution of LEU and MET enkephalin in rat brain

The effects of local micro injections of opiates and enkephalins into the forebrain on the electrocorticogram of the rat

The effects of various opiate compounds have been studied on the electrocorticogram (ECoG) of the rat following local injection into various brain areas. Injections of all compounds studied into both the caudate-putamen and the basal forebrain, in particular the olfactory tubercles, induced changes in the ECoG. Injections of saline vehicle into these areas were ineffective as were injections of morphine into the corpus callosum. Potency was etorphine greater than morphine = codeine greater than thebaine. Naloxone alone was inactive following injection but if combined with morphine markedly attenuated the normal morphine response and reversed the morphine response if injected following morphine. The endogenous opiate compound enkephalin and the synthetic analogue D-ala2-met5-encamide also induced electrocortical changes which were naloxone sensitive. The results are similar to those following systemic administration of opiates. It is possible that the areas studied represent the site of action of systemically applied opiates. It is suggested that the opiates and enkephalins produce their actions by acting at the same site. Since the areas studied are rich in dopaminergic terminals an interaction may exist between dopaminergic and opiate mechanism to bring about the observed changes.

Immunohistochemical localization of enkephalin in rat brain and spinal cord

The distribution of immunoreactive enkephalin in rat brain and spinal cord was studied by immunoperoxidase staining using antiserum to leucine-enkephalin ([Leu5]-enkephalin) or methionine-enkephalin ([Met5]-enkephalin). Immunoreactive staining for both enkephalins was similarly observed in nerve fibers, terminals and cell bodies in many regions of the central nervous system. Staining of perikarya was detected in hypophysectomized rats or colchicine pretreated rats. The regions of localization for enkephalin fibers and terminals include in the forebrain: lateral septum, central nucleus of the amygdala, area CA2 of the hippocampus, certain regions of the cortex, corpus striatum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, hypothalamus including median eminence, thalamus and subthalamus; in the midbrain: nucleus interpeduncularis, periaqueductal gray and reticular formation; in the hind brain: nucleus parabrachialis, locus ceruleus, nuclei raphes, nucleus cochlearis, nucleus tractus solitarii, nucleus spinalis nervi trigemini, motor nuclei of certain cranial nerves, nucleus commissuralis and formatio reticularis; and in the spinal cord the substantia gelatinosa. In contrast enkephalin cell bodies appear sparsely distributed in the telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon and rhombencephalon. The results of the histochemical staining show that certain structures which positively stain for enkephalin closely correspond to the distribution of opiate receptors in the brain and thus support the concept that the endogenous opiate peptides are involved in the perception of pain and analgesia. The localization of enkephalin in the preoptic-hypothalamic region together with the presence of enkephalin perikarya in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei suggest a role of enkephalin in the regulation of neuroendocrine functions.

Enkephalin and other peptides reduce passiveness

Enkephalin and other brain peptides previously have been shown to be active in the dopa potentiation test which may be considered an animal model of mental depression. A recently described model of passive immobility during swimming, also sensitive to tricyclic antidepressants, was therefore used to study a large number of naturally occurring peptides and some of their analogues. It was found that several enkephalins with no opiate activity after peripheral injection reduced the immobility and thus increased the activity of swimming rats. alpha-MSH, but not its 4--10 core or a 4--9 analogue, also caused significantly more swimming than did the diluent control. As we have previously found in several animal and clinical studies, a smaller dose of MIF-I was more effective than larger doses. The results confirm our concept of the CNS actions of brain peptides and support the suggestion that some of them, like the enkephalins, might be useful after peripheral administration in mental depression or other CNS disorders.

Effect of opioid peptides on L-noradrenaline-stimulated cyclic AMP formation in homogenates of rat cerebral cortex and hypothalamus

Morphine and the opioid peptides leucine-enkephalin (leu-enk), methionine-enkephalin (met-enk) and beta-endorphin had no effect on basal cyclic AMP levels in rat cerebral cortex and hypothalamus, but each inhibited noradrenaline (NA)-stimulated cyclic AMP formation in both brain regions. This inhibition was reversed by naloxone. Naloxone did not reverse phentolamine- or propranolol-induced inhibition of NA-stimulated cyclic AMP formation. The increase in cyclic AMP formation induced by NaF or MnCl2 was unaffected by met-enk or morphine. These data suggest that in rat cerebral cortex and hypothalamus opiates bind to opiate receptors and that the opiate-receptor complex interferes with noradrenergic receptor activity.

Leu-enkephalin-like material in nerves and enterochromaffin cells in the gut. An immunohistochemical study

The distribution and cellular localization of leu-enkephalin in the gut and pancreas was studied by immunohistochemistry using two different antisera, one specifically directed against leu-enkephalin and the other cross reacting with met-enkephalin. The results were identical with both antisera. In all species examined, enkephalin-immunoreactive material was found in nerves of the smooth muscle, particularly numerous in the myenteric plexus. Here, immunoreactive nerve cell bodies were observed occasionally. In addition, enkephalin-immunoreactive material was demonstrated in gut endocrine cells of chicken, mouse, rat, pig and monkey but not of guinea pig, cat and man. Enkephalin cells were detected also in the exocrine parenchyma of the porcine pancreas. They were rare in the gut of mouse, rat and monkey but numerous in the antrum and duodenum of pig where they were identified as 5-hydroxytryptamine-storing enterochromaffin cells. The enkephalin-containing cells of the porcine antrum and duodenum were defined ultrastructurally by the consecutive semithin/ultrathin section technique. The ultrastructural features were typical of enterochromaffin cells, the most characteristic ones being the irregular shape and high electron density of the cytoplasmic granules. The immunoreactive material was confined to the cytoplasmic granules.

Met-enkephalin: rapid separation from brain extracts using high-pressure liquid chromatography, and quantitation by binding assay

Met-enkephalin can be rapidly separated with high recovery from leu-enkephalin, beta-endorphin, and enkephalin metabolites by high-pressure liquid chromatography on a Dupont SCX column. The technique permits separation of endogenous enkephalins from brain extracts for measurement by opiate-receptor binding assay, immunoassay, or for study of the incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids into enkephalin. Using this technique, met-enkephalin was separated from striatal extracts of rats killed by focused microwave irradiation and quantitated by the opiate-receptor binding assay. The concentration of met-enkephalin in the column eluate was 1.3 micron/g tissue. This value is comparable to that obtained by radioimmunoassay without purification of the extracts.

[Met5]Enkephalin content in brain regions of rats treated with lithium

In rats, chronic treatment with lithium elicits a dose-dependent increase in the [Met5]enkephalin content of nucleus caudatus and globus pallidus. A single injection of lithium fails to change the striatal [Met5]enkephalin content. The increase in [Met5]enkephalin caused by chronic lithium is proportional to the serum lithium level. The extent of the increase in striatal [Met5]enkephalin content levels off at a value of about 250% that of untreated rats. This increase has a time latency of 2--3 days and reaches a plateau at 5 days. The increase that was present at 5 days was no longer evident if the treatment was continued for 2 weeks. Lithium also increases striatal [Leu5]enkephalin content by an extent equal to the increase of [Met 5]enkephalin. Based on the characteristics of the lithium-induced increase in [Met6]enkephalin content, it is proposed that lithium may reduce the rate of release of [Met5]enkephalin from the small enkephalinergic neurons that are intrinsic to the striatum; this action may be related to a change in the regulation of striatal neurons.

Morphine-induced regional and dose-response differences on unit impulse activity in decerebrate rats

Previous studies have indicated that morphine alters nerve impulse activity differently in various brain areas of intact animals. Because morphine has profound effects on visceral organs and on the spinal cord, cervically transected preparations, in which hypothermia was prevented, were used for recording spontaneous impulse activity before and for 30 min after morphine simultaneously from six regions of the brain: caudate (Cau), midbrain reticular formation (MBRF), central grey (CG), cingulate cortex (CC), hippocampus (Hip), and substantia nigra (SN). Morphine (5 and 15 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a naloxone-preventable depression of impulse activity in most brain areas. The depression was, however, especially pronounced in the CG, more so with the lower than the higher dose; naloxone completely blocked the low-dose effect. The MBRF responded with increased impulse activity after 5 mg/kg, but with depression after 15 mg/kg; naloxone blocked both responses. Activity in both the Hip and CC was depressed by the low dose of morphine, but not by the high dose; naloxone blocked the depression. Both doses of morphine generally depressed the variance in impulse activity, with a clear preferential depression of CG variance; naloxone blocked the CG variance effect, but not that of other brain areas.

Opiate peptide modulation of amino acid responses suggests novel form of neuronal communication

Mouse spinal neurons grown in tissue culture were used to study the electrophysiological pharmacology of the opiate peptide leucine-enkephalin. Enkephalin depressed glutamate-evoked responses in a noncompetitive manner independent of any other effects on membrane properties. The results demonstrate a neuromodulatory action of opiate peptide functionally distinct from the conventional neurotransmitter class of operation.

Potassium-induced release of enkephalins from rat striatal slices

The rate of release of enkephalin from rat striatal slices increased 7--10 fold in response to depolarization by 50 mM potassium ions in vitro. The potassium-evoked release of enkephalins was abolished in a calcium deficient medium. Uptake studies indicated that the potassium-stimulated efflux was not due to the inhibition of an active uptake mechanism for these peptides. These findings provide support for the view that enkephalins may function as neurotransmitters in brain.

Enkephalin: radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay in morphine dependent rats

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for enkephalins is described which discriminates between leucineenkephalin and methionine-enkephalin. Total opioid peptide activity was assayed by the ability of brain extracts to compete for opiate receptor binding. In rats treated with morphine and/or naloxone, opiates were separated from opioid peptides by Dowex AG-50W column chromatography prior to radioreceptor assay. Chronic administration of morphine failed to alter immunoreactive enkephalin levels or total opioid activity in radioreceptor assays.

Radioimmunoassay of enkephalins. Regional distribution in rat brain after morphine treatment and hypophysectomy

Using highly sensitive and highly specific antisera methionine- and leucine-enkephalin levels were determined in various areas of the rat brain. The highest content of both enkephalins was found in the striatum and the hypothalamus, whereas in the hippocampus, the cerebellum and the cortex only a low content was present. The ratio methionine-enkephalin/leucine-enkephalin was about three. Neither acute or chronic morphine treatment nor precipitated morphine withdrawal induced significant changes in enkephalin levels in any brain region. Also hypophysectomy did not affect the enkephalin content of the various brain regions.

Inhibition of acetylcholine turnover in rat hippocampus by intraseptal injections of beta-endorphin and morphine

Intraseptal administration of morphine (70 nmol) or beta-endorphin (0.7 nmol) reduced the rate of acetylcholine (ACh) turnover (TRACh) in rat hippocampus but not in striatum or cortex. These intraseptal injections failed to modify the ACh content and did not elicit analgesia. Naltrexone (15 mumol/kg, i.p.) completely antagonized the decrease of hippocampal TRACh elicited by the two opiate receptor agonists. Furthermore, intraseptal injections of naltrexone partially blocked the decrease in hippocampal TRACh induced by intraperitoneal administration of morphine (70 mumol/kg, i.p.). These data suggest that opiate agonists decrease hippocampal TRACh by regulating septal cholinergic neurons, and that this effect is not associated with analgesia.