The mechanism of action of narcotic analgesics in the guinea-pig ileum

Critical Assessment of G Protein-Biased Agonism at the μ-Opioid Receptor

G protein-biased agonists of the μ-opioid receptor (MOPr) have been proposed as an improved class of opioid analgesics. Recent studies have been unable to reproduce the original experiments in the β-arrestin2-knockout mouse that led to this proposal, and alternative genetic models do not support the G protein-biased MOPr agonist hypothesis. Furthermore, assessment of putatively biased ligands has been confounded by several factors, including assay amplification. As such, the extent to which current lead compounds represent mechanistically novel, extremely G protein-biased agonists is in question, as is the underlying assumption that β-arrestin2 mediates deleterious opioid effects. Addressing these current challenges represents a pressing issue to successfully advance drug development at this receptor and improve upon current opioid analgesics.

The gut-brain interaction in opioid tolerance

The prevailing opioid crisis has necessitated the need to understand mechanisms leading to addiction and tolerance, the major contributors to overdose and death and to develop strategies for developing drugs for pain treatment that lack abuse liability and side-effects. Opioids are commonly used for treatment of pain and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. The significant effect of opioids in the gut, both acute and chronic, includes persistent constipation and paradoxically may also worsen pain symptoms. Recent work has suggested a significant role of the gastrointestinal microbiome in behavioral responses to opioids, including the development of tolerance to its pain-relieving effects. In this review, we present current concepts of gut-brain interaction in analgesic tolerance to opioids and suggest that peripheral mechanisms emanating from the gut can profoundly affect central control of opioid function.

Connexin-purinergic signaling in enteric glia mediates the prolonged effect of morphine on constipation

Morphine is one of the most widely used drugs for the treatment of pain. However, side effects, including persistent constipation and antinociceptive tolerance, limit its clinical efficacy. Prolonged morphine treatment results in a "leaky" gut, predisposing to colonic inflammation that is facilitated by microbial dysbiosis and associated bacterial translocation. In this study, we examined the role of enteric glia in mediating this secondary inflammatory response to prolonged treatment with morphine. We found that purinergic P2X receptor activity was significantly enhanced in enteric glia that were isolated from mice with long-term morphine treatment (in vivo) but not upon direct exposure of glia to morphine (in vitro). LPS, a major bacterial product, also increased ATP-induced currents, as well as expression of P2X4, P2X7, IL6, IL-1β mRNA in enteric glia. LPS increased connexin43 (Cx43) expression and enhanced ATP release from enteric glia cells. LPS-induced P2X currents and proinflammatory cytokine mRNA expression were blocked by the Cx43 blockers Gap26 and carbenoxolone. Likewise, colonic inflammation related to prolonged exposure to morphine was significantly attenuated by carbenoxolone (25 mg/kg). Carbenoxolone also prevented gut wall disruption and significantly reduced morphine-induced constipation. These findings imply that enteric glia activation is a significant modulator of morphine-related inflammation and constipation.-Bhave, S., Gade, A., Kang, M., Hauser, K. F., Dewey, W. L., Akbarali, H. I. Connexin-purinergic signaling in enteric glia mediates the prolonged effect of morphine on constipation.

Morphine dependence in single enteric neurons from the mouse colon requires deletion of β-arrestin2

Chronic administration of morphine results in the development of tolerance to the analgesic effects and to inhibition of upper gastrointestinal motility but not to colonic motility, resulting in persistent constipation. In this study we examined the effect of chronic morphine in myenteric neurons from the adult mouse colon. Similar to the ileum, distinct neuronal populations exhibiting afterhyperpolarization (AHP)-positive and AHP-negative neurons were identified in the colon. Acute morphine (3 μM) decreased the number of action potentials, and increased the threshold for action potential generation indicative of reduced excitability in AHP-positive neurons. In neurons from the ileum of mice that were rendered antinociceptive tolerant by morphine-pellet implantation for 5 days, the opioid antagonist naloxone precipitated withdrawal as evidenced by increased neuronal excitability. Overnight incubation of ileum neurons with morphine also resulted in enhanced excitability to naloxone. Colonic neurons exposed to long-term morphine, remained unresponsive to naloxone suggesting that precipitated withdrawal does not occur in colonic neurons. However, morphine-treated colonic neurons from β-arrestin2 knockout mice demonstrated increased excitability upon treatment with naloxone as assessed by change in rheobase, number of action potentials and input resistance. These data suggest that similar to the ileum, acute exposure to morphine in colonic neurons results in reduced excitability due to inhibition of sodium currents. However, unlike the ileum, dependence to chronic exposure of morphine develops in colonic neurons from the β-arrestin2 knockout mice. These studies corroborate the in-vivo findings of the differential role of neuronal β-arrestin2 in the development of morphine tolerance/dependence in the ileum and colon.

The μ-opioid receptor: an electrophysiologist's perspective from the sharp end

Morphine, the prototypical opioid analgesic drug, produces its behavioural effects primarily through activation of μ-opioid receptors expressed in neurones of the central and peripheral nervous systems. This perspective provides a historical view of how, over the past 40 years, the use of electrophysiological recording techniques has helped to reveal the molecular mechanisms by which acute and chronic activation of μ-opioid receptors by morphine and other opioid drugs modify neuronal function.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed section on Opioids: New Pathways to Functional Selectivity. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-2.

Functional Interaction between the Shell Sub-Region of the Nucleus Accumbens and the Ventral Tegmental Area in Response to Morphine: an Electrophysiological Study

This study has examined the functional importance of nucleus accumbens (NAc)-ventral tegmental area (VTA) interactions. As it is known, this interaction is important in associative reward processes. Under urethane anesthesia, extracellular single unit recordings of the shell sub-region of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh) neurons were employed to determine the functional contributions of the VTA to neuronal activity across NAcSh in rats. The baseline firing rate of NAcSh neurons varied between 0.42 and 11.44 spikes/sec and the average frequency of spontaneous activity over 45-minute period was 3.21±0.6 spikes/sec. The majority of NAcSh neurons responded excitatory in the first and second 15-min time blocks subsequent to the inactivation of VTA. In the next set of experiments, eight experimental rats received morphine (5 mg/kg; sc). Three patterns of neuronal activity were found. Among the recorded neurons only three had an increase followed by morphine administration. Whereas the other three neurons were attenuated following morphine administration; and there were no changes in the firing rates of the two neurons left. Finally, unilateral reversible inactivation of VTA attenuated the firing activity of the majority of ipsilateral NAcSh neuron in response to morphine, except for a single cell. These results suggest that transient inactivation of VTA reduces the ability of neurons in the NAcsh to respond to systemic morphine, and that NAcSh neuron activity depends on basal firing rate of VTA inputs.

Morphine decreases enteric neuron excitability via inhibition of sodium channels

Gastrointestinal peristalsis is significantly dependent on the enteric nervous system. Constipation due to reduced peristalsis is a major side-effect of morphine, which limits the chronic usefulness of this excellent pain reliever in man. The ionic basis for the inhibition of enteric neuron excitability by morphine is not well characterized as previous studies have mainly utilized microelectrode recordings from whole mount myenteric plexus preparations in guinea pigs. Here we have developed a Swiss-Webster mouse myenteric neuron culture and examined their electrophysiological properties by patch-clamp techniques and determined the mechanism for morphine-induced decrease in neuronal excitability. Isolated neurons in culture were confirmed by immunostaining with pan-neuronal marker, β-III tubulin and two populations were identified by calbindin and calretinin staining. Distinct neuronal populations were further identified based on the presence and absence of an afterhyperpolarization (AHP). Cells with AHP expressed greater density of sodium currents. Morphine (3 µM) significantly reduced the amplitude of the action potential, increased the threshold for spike generation but did not alter the resting membrane potential. The decrease in excitability resulted from inhibition of sodium currents. In the presence of morphine, the steady-state voltage dependence of Na channels was shifted to the left with almost 50% of channels unavailable for activation from hyperpolarized potentials. During prolonged exposure to morphine (two hours), action potentials recovered, indicative of the development of tolerance in single enteric neurons. These results demonstrate the feasibility of isolating mouse myenteric neurons and establish sodium channel inhibition as a mechanism for morphine-induced decrease in neuronal excitability.

Lubiprostone reverses the inhibitory action of morphine on intestinal secretion in guinea pig and mouse

Lubiprostone activates ClC-2 chloride channels in epithelia. It is approved for treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation in adults and constipation-predominate irritable bowel syndrome in women. We tested a hypothesis that lubiprostone can reverse the constipating action of morphine and investigated the mechanism of action. Short-circuit current (Isc) was recorded in Ussing chambers as a marker for chloride secretion during pharmacological interactions between morphine and lubiprostone. Measurements of fecal wet weight were used to obtain information on morphine-lubiprostone interactions in conscious mice. Morphine decreased basal Isc, with an IC(50) of 96.1 nM. The action of dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), a nicotinic receptor agonist that stimulates neurogenic Isc, was suppressed by morphine. Lubiprostone applied after pretreatment with morphine reversed morphine suppression of both basal Isc and DMPP-evoked chloride secretion. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) of submucosal neurons evoked biphasic increases in Isc. Morphine abolished the first phase and marginally suppressed the second phase. Lubiprostone reversed, in concentration-dependent manner, the action of morphine on the first and second phases of the EFS-evoked responses. Subcutaneous lubiprostone increased fecal wet weight and numbers of pellets expelled. Morphine significantly reduced fecal wet weight and number of pellets. Injection of lubiprostone, 30-min after morphine, reversed morphine-induced suppression of fecal wet weight. We conclude that inhibitory action of morphine on chloride secretion reflects suppression of excitability of cholinergic secretomotor neurons in the enteric nervous system. Lubiprostone, which does not directly affect enteric neurons, bypasses the neurogenic constipating effects of morphine by directly opening chloride channels in the mucosal epithelium.

75 years of opioid research: the exciting but vain quest for the Holy Grail

Over the 75-year lifetime of the British Pharmacological Society there has been an enormous expansion in our understanding of how opioid drugs act on the nervous system, with much of this effort aimed at developing powerful analgesic drugs devoid of the side effects associated with morphine--the Holy Grail of opioid research. At the molecular and cellular level multiple opioid receptors have been cloned and characterised, their potential for oligomerisation determined, a large family of endogenous opioid agonists has been discovered, multiple second messengers identified and our understanding of the adaptive changes to prolonged exposure to opioid drugs (tolerance and physical dependence) enhanced. In addition, we now have greater understanding of the processes by which opioids produce the euphoria that gives rise to the intense craving for these drugs in opioid addicts. In this article, we review the historical pathway of opioid research that has led to our current state of knowledge.

Sleep and GABA levels in the oral part of rat pontine reticular formation are decreased by local and systemic administration of morphine

Morphine, a mu-opioid receptor agonist, is a commonly prescribed treatment for pain. Although highly efficacious, morphine has many unwanted side effects including disruption of sleep and obtundation of wakefulness. One mechanism by which morphine alters sleep and wakefulness may be by modulating GABAergic signaling in brain regions regulating arousal, including the pontine reticular nucleus, oral part (PnO). This study used in vivo microdialysis in unanesthetized Sprague-Dawley rat to test the hypothesis that mu-opioid receptors modulate PnO GABA levels. Validation of the high performance liquid chromatographic technique used to quantify GABA was obtained by dialyzing the PnO (n=4 rats) with the GABA reuptake inhibitor nipecotic acid (500 microM). Nipecotic acid caused a 185+/-20% increase in PnO GABA levels, confirming chromatographic detection of GABA and demonstrating the existence of functional GABA transporters in rat PnO. Morphine caused a concentration-dependent decrease in PnO GABA levels (n=25 rats). Coadministration of morphine (100 microM) with naloxone (1 microM), a mu-opioid receptor antagonist, blocked the morphine-induced decrease in PnO GABA levels (n=5 rats). These results show for the first time that mu-opioid receptors in rat PnO modulate GABA levels. A second group of rats (n=6) was used to test the hypothesis that systemically administered morphine also decreases PnO GABA levels. I.v. morphine caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease (19%) in PnO GABA levels relative to control i.v. infusions of saline. Finally, microinjections followed by 2 h recordings of electroencephalogram and electromyogram tested the hypothesis that PnO morphine administration disrupts sleep (n=8 rats). Morphine significantly (P<0.05) increased the percent of time spent in wakefulness (65%) and significantly (P<0.05) decreased the percent of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (-53%) and non-REM sleep (-69%). The neurochemical and behavioral data suggest that morphine may disrupt sleep, at least in part, by decreasing GABAergic transmission in the PnO.

Function of opioids in the enteric nervous system

Alterations in gastrointestinal motility and secretion underlie the constipating action of therapeutically administered opiates. The prototype opiate is morphine, which acts to delay gastric emptying and intestinal transit, to suppress intestinal secretion of water and electrolytes and to suppress transport of bile into the duodenum. The effects of opiates, synthetic opioids and endogenously released opioid peptides on these organ-level gastrointestinal functions reflect actions on electrical and synaptic behaviour of neurones in the enteric nervous system. Adverse effects and positive therapeutic effects of administration of opioid-receptor-blocking drugs on the digestive tract must be understood in the context of the neurophysiology of the enteric nervous system and mechanisms of neural control of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, secretory glands and blood-lymphatic vasculature. We review here the integrated systems of physiology and cellular neurobiology that are basic to understanding the actions of opioid agonists and antagonists in the digestive tract.

Relationship between muscarinic autoinhibition and the inhibitory effect of morphine on acetylcholine release from myenteric plexus of guinea pig ileum

The relationship between muscarinic autoinhibition and the inhibitory effect of morphine on acetylcholine (ACh) release was investigated in a longitudinal muscle with myenteric plexus (LMMP) preparation of guinea pig ileum. Morphine (10 microM) inhibited spontaneous and evoked ACh release by electrical field stimulation (EFS) at 1 Hz but not at 10 Hz. Atropine (1 microM) did not affect the resting ACh release, but it significantly increased EFS-evoked release, suggesting activation of muscarinic autoreceptors by ACh released during EFS. Only when the autoinhibition was weakened by atropine, morphine exhibited an inhibitory effect on the EFS-evoked release at 10 Hz. Bethanechol (300 microM) inhibited the EFS-evoked release at 1 Hz but not 10 Hz, suggesting that muscarinic autoreceptors are partially or almost fully activated at 1 or 10 Hz stimulation, respectively. After bethanechol treatment, morphine did not exhibit its inhibitory effect on the EFS-evoked release at 1 Hz. Naloxone (1 microM) increased spontaneous and EFS-evoked ACh release at 1 Hz but not at 10 Hz. Following treatment with atropine, naloxone also increased ACh release at 10-Hz stimulation. These results suggest that morphine and an endogenous opioid inhibit ACh release from LMMP preparations when muscarinic autoinhibition mechanism does not fully work. This inhibitory effect of morphine is discussed in relation to the calcium sensitivity of the preparations in ACh release.

Relationship between inhibitory effect of endogenous opioid via mu-receptors and muscarinic autoinhibition in acetylcholine release from myenteric plexus of guinea pig ileum

Relationship between activation of opioid receptors and muscarinic autoinhibition in acetylcholine (ACh) release from the myenteric plexus was studied in longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus (LMMP) preparations of guinea pig ileum. A mu-receptor agonist, [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol] enkephalin (DAMGO), at a concentration of 1 microM inhibited the ACh release evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) at 1 Hz but not at 10 Hz. After the muscarinic autoreceptors were blocked with atropine (1 microM), DAMGO inhibited EFS-evoked ACh release also at 10 Hz. After the autoreceptors were potently activated with muscarine (200 microM), the inhibitory effect of DAMGO at 1 Hz was abolished. A kappa-receptor agonist, U-50,488, at 1 microM inhibited the EFS-evoked ACh release both at 1 and 10 Hz. U-50,488 inhibited ACh release regardless of the presence of atropine or muscarine. A delta-agonist, enkephalin [D-PEN2.5] (PDPDE), did not show any significant effect. On the other hand, a selective mu-receptor antagonist, cyprodime, increased ACh release evoked by EFS at 1 Hz, but not at 10 Hz. After the autoreceptors were blocked, cyprodime increased EFS-evoked ACh release also at 10 Hz. The selective kappa-receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine, did not affect ACh release in the absence or presence of atropine. The results suggest that endogenous opioid(s) inhibits ACh release by activating mu-, but not kappa- and delta-receptors in the LMMP of guinea pig ileum and that the inhibitory effect of endogenous opioid(s) in the ACh release is important when muscarinic autoinhibition mechanism does not fully work.

Effect of opiates on transmitter release from visualized hypogastric boutons innervating the rat pelvic ganglia

1. The effect of opiates on neurotransmission between visualized hypogastric nerve boutons and postganglionic cell bodies has been examined using extracellular recording of nerve bouton impulses (NBIs) and excitatory postsynaptic currents (e.p.s.cs). 2. Morphine (10 to 40 microM) did not affect neurotransmission in the ganglia. Dynorphin-A (4 microM) and U50488H (1 microM) decreased quantal transmitter release and naloxone (10 microM) reversed these effects. 3. Morphine (10 microM), dynorphin-A (4 microM) and U50488H (1 microM) did not affect either the time course or consistency with which the NBI was recorded. 4. Dynorphin-A (1 to 4 microM) and U50488H (1 microM) decreased the average amplitude of e.p.s.cs by increasing the number of failures to release quanta from single or small groups of 2 to 4 boutons during continuous nerve stimulation at 0.1 Hz. 5. The decrease in quantal release induced by dynorphin-A and U50488H in 0.2 to 0.5 mM [Ca2+]zero was readily reversed by increasing the extracellular calcium ion concentration to 1 mM. 6. It was concluded that kappa-opioid receptors are located on the boutons of the hypogastric nerve and when activated by kappa-opioid receptor agonists reduce quantal release without affecting the NBI.

Drugs coordinating and restoring gastrointestinal motility and their effect on selected hypodynamic gastrointestinal disorders in horses and cattle

Hypodynamic gastrointestinal disorders in horses and cattle that are thought to benefit from treatment with drugs restoring and coordinating gastrointestinal motility include postoperative ileus and large colon impaction in the horse and displacement of the abomasum and dilatation of the cecum in cattle. Important physiologic, pathophysiologic and pharmacologic mechanisms involved in the intrinsic control of gastrointestinal motility include cholinergic, adrenergic, dopaminergic, serotoninergic, and opioid-mediated pathways. Preliminary results suggest that cisapride, acting on 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptors, might be useful for treatment of idiopathic postoperative ileus and the alpha 2-adrenoceptor blocking agent yohimbine for endotoxic postoperative ileus. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, and neostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, are thought to restore motility of the large colon in cases of large colon impaction in the horse. Bethanechol and neostigmine significantly increase myoelectric activity of the cecum and proximal loop of the ascending colon in healthy cows. Investigations of the effects of prokinetic drugs on displacement of the abomasum of cattle do not allow any conclusions because no results derived from controlled experimental disease models are available.

Opioid actions on neurons of rat lateral amygdala in vitro

Intracellular recordings were made from neurons in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala, in a slice of rat brain that was superfused in vitro. [Met5]enkephalin (3-30 microM) and the mu receptor selective agonist DAMGO (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-MePhe-Gly-ol; 0.3-3 microM) hyperpolarized about 50% of cells; this was blocked by naloxone and by the mu receptor antagonist CTOP (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2). The pA2s for naloxone and CTOP were 8.3 and 7.7, respectively. DPDPE (Tyr-D-Pen-Gly-Phe-D-Pen: delta receptor selective) and U50488 (trans-(+-)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl] benzeneacetamide methane sulfonate; kappa receptor selective) had no effect. Synaptic potentials mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) acting at GABAA receptors were elicited by focal stimulation of the slice in a combination of 6-cyano-2,3-dihydroxy-7-nitroquinoxaline (10 microM) and 4-aminophosphonovaleric acid (30 microM). They were inhibited by up to 60% by DAMGO and by DPDPE. The action of DAMGO was blocked by CTOP but not by the delta-selective antagonist ICI174864 (N,N-bisallyl-Tyr-Aib-Aib-Phe-Leu-OH, Aib = aminoisobutyrate). The action of DPDPE was blocked by ICI174864 but not by CTOP. Depolarizations elicited by addition of GABA to the superfusing solution were not affected by opioids. It is concluded that activation of mu opioid receptors hyperpolarizes about 50% of lateral amygdala neurons. Activation of either mu or delta receptors also inhibits presynaptically the release of GABA.

Modulation of peristalsis in the guinea-pig isolated small intestine by exogenous and endogenous opioids

1. A recording method was developed to measure physiological parameters of the preparatory and emptying phases of peristalsis in vitro. This method enabled measurement of: the compliance of the intestinal wall during the preparatory phase (a reflection of the resistance of the wall to distension); longitudinal muscle contraction during the preparatory phase; the threshold volume required to trigger the emptying phase; the maximal ejection pressure and the average power generated during the emptying phase, which reflects the rate at which the intestine performs work. Modulation of these parameters by exogenous and endogenous opioids acting at mu, kappa and delta opioid receptors was investigated. 2. The compliance of the intestinal wall during the preparatory phase was reduced by the mu opioid receptor agonist, [D-Ala2, N-methyl-Phe4, Gly5-ol] enkephalin (DAMGO) but not by the kappa agonist, dynorphin, or the delta agonist, [D-penicillamine2, D-penicillamine5] enkephalin (DPDPE). Reflex contraction of the longitudinal muscle during the preparatory phase was inhibited by DAMGO, dynorphin and DPDPE. The threshold volume required to trigger the emptying phase of peristalsis was increased by DAMGO, dynorphin and DPDPE. 3. The maximal ejection pressure generated during the emptying phase was reduced by dynorphin and DPDPE, but not by DAMGO. The average power generated by the intestine when emptying was not altered by any of the agonists. 4. Electrically stimulated contractions of longitudinal muscle in strips of longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus were not inhibited by DPDPE. Similarly, DPDPE did not significantly inhibit electrically induced contraction of circular muscle in strips of circular muscle-myenteric plexus.5. Each of the agonist effects on peristaltic parameters was antagonized by the appropriate antagonist:D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTOP) (mu), norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI) (kappa), naltrindole(delta).6. It is concluded that mu and kappa agonists act primarily on excitatory circular and longitudinal muscle motor neurones. The delta agonist probably acts on enteric neurones presynaptic to excitatory circular and longitudinal muscle motor neurones.7. Antagonists for mu, delta and kappa receptors did not affect any parameters of peristalsis when the intestine emptied against a low resistance. However, when emptying against a high outflow resistance, the average power generated by the intestine was increased by the kappa antagonist, nor-BNI, but not by CTOP or naltrindole.8. It is concluded that endogenous opioids appear to have little role in peristalsis when the intestine is working against a low outflow resistance. However endogenous opioids, acting primarily at kappa receptors,provide a braking mechanism by inhibiting the emptying phase of peristalsis in conditions in which the intestine empties against a higher resistance.

Sites of action of morphine on the ascending excitatory reflex in the guinea-pig small intestine

The effect of morphine on the ascending excitatory reflex of the circular muscle elicited by radial distension of the gut wall was studied in the isolated guinea-pig small intestine. A three compartment bath, in which an intermediate compartment divided the site of intraluminal stimulation (caudal compartment) from the site of reflex contraction recording (oral compartment), was used. Morphine (0.01-10 microM) applied independently to each compartment, caused a concentration-dependent depression (up to 90%) of the amplitude of distension-evoked reflex contractions. Concentration-response curves to morphine were shifted to the right by naloxone (30 nM) with an apparent pA2 value of about 8.5, which suggests an interaction with opioid mu-receptor subtypes. Our results indicate that morphine not only depressed transmission from excitatory motor neurons to the circular muscle but also neuro-neuronal transmission along the ascending excitatory reflex pathway.

An opioid pancreatic peptide produces ileal muscle inhibition and naloxone-reversible analgesia

The opioid activity of immunoreactive beta-endorphin-like peptide extracted from pork pancreas duplicates the effects of morphine and synthetic beta-endorphin when measured by inhibition of isolated guinea pig ileal muscle response to electro-stimulation in vitro and by morphine-like analgesia following intravenous injection in the mouse. These responses are reversed by the opiate antagonist naloxone, indicating that a potent opioid mu receptor binding ligand is present in pancreatic extract. These findings imply a pancreatic source of plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin that may explain a number of physiological and behavioral effects generally attributed to hypophyseal beta-endorphin alone.

The electrophysiological effects of [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin on guinea-pig myenteric neurons

The electrophysiological effects of a highly selective mu opioid agonist, [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAGO) were investigated on S and AH myenteric neurons in the guinea-pig ileum. Administration of DAGO (500 nM) caused a mean membrane hyperpolarization (+/- S.E.M.) of 7.8 +/- 0.5 mV in 58 of 138 S neurons, associated with a decrease in input resistance from 158 +/- 18 to 132 +/- 13 m omega. DAGO also produced a significant decrease in the mean amplitude of the cholinergic fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), from 12.0 +/- 1.1 to 6.6 +/- 1.4 mV in 13 of 27 S neurons. On the other hand, in AH neurons, DAGO did not significantly affect the membrane potential, input resistance, action potential configuration, slow after-hyperpolarization or the antidromic action potential. The experiments indicate that the acute effects of mu opioids in the guinea-pig ileum are confined to a subpopulation of a single electrophysiological class of myenteric neurons.

Opioid, 5-HT1A and alpha 2 receptors localized to subsets of guinea-pig myenteric neurons

The expression of mu opioid, alpha 2 and 5-hydroxytryptamine1A (5-HT1A) receptors on guinea-pig myenteric neurons was determined using receptor selective agonists during intracellular recordings in vitro. Agonists known to hyperpolarize myenteric neurons by increasing potassium conductance were tested: noradrenaline and UK 14304 (alpha 2 agonists); 5-HT, 8-hydroxydipropylaminotetralin, 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-HT1A agonists); normorphine, [Met5]-enkephalin and D-Ala2-Phe4, Gly-ol5 enkephalin (mu agonists). The alpha 2 agonists hyperpolarized 46/67 AH cells; mu agonists hyperpolarized 11/66 AH cells and 5-HT1A agonists inhibited 28/57 AH cells. Hyperpolarizations to both alpha 2 and mu agonists were observed in 11/59 AH cells; hyperpolarizations to both alpha 2 and 5-HT1A agonists were observed in 23/49 AH cells. Hyperpolarizations mediated at alpha 2 receptors were observed in 11/54 S neurons and mu agonists hyperpolarized 17/45 S cells. alpha 2 and mu receptors were localized together on 10/43 S cells tested with receptor selective agonists. 5-HT1A-mediated hyperpolarizations were not observed in 36 S cells. Presynaptic inhibition of fast excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fast e.p.s.p.s., S neurons) was observed in all cells tested with alpha 2 agonists (n = 32); in 14/23 cells tested with 5-HT1A agonists and in 8/22 cells tested with mu agonists. Both alpha 2 and 5-HT1A agonists inhibited fast e.p.s.p.s in 15/23 cells, while alpha 2 and mu agonists both inhibited the fast e.p.s.p. in 8/21 cells. Inhibition of fast e.p.s.p.s by mu and 5-HT1A agonists occurred together in 2/19 cells. Slow non-cholinergic e.p.s.p.s were inhibited by alpha 2 agonists in 19/19 cells and by 5-HT1A agonists in 19/21 cells. alpha 2- and 5-HT1A-mediated inhibition of slow e.p.s.p.s occurred together in 12/14 cells. These data allow AH neurons to be divided into two groups: those expressing alpha 2 and 5-HT1A receptors and those expressing alpha 2 and mu receptors. alpha 2 and mu receptors coexist on S neurons which do not express 5-HT1A receptors. Terminals that release acetylcholine express either alpha 2 and mu or alpha 2 and 5-HT1A receptors, consistent with the idea that they are provided by AH cells. Terminals that release mediators of the slow e.p.s.p. express primarily alpha 2 and 5-HT1A receptors.

Activation of mu- and delta-opioid receptors present on the same nerve terminals depresses transmitter release in the mouse hypogastric ganglion

1. The inhibitory actions of mu- and delta-opioid receptor agonists on the strong, single fibre synaptic input to neurones contained in the mouse hypogastric ganglion have been examined. 2. The opioid agonists [D-Ala2,NMePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO, 10 nM-10 microM), morphine (10-30 [D-Ser2,Leu5,Thr6]enkephalin (DSLET, 3 nM-1 microM), [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE, 10 nM-10 microM), all depressed the single fibre, all-or-nothing, nicotinic, excitatory synaptic potential (e.p.s.p.) recorded in mouse hypogastric ganglion neurones. U50488H (0.3-1 microM) was without effect. 3. The effect of DSLET, but not that of DAMGO, was reversed by the delta-opioid receptor-selective antagonist, ICI 174864 (0.3 microM). Naloxone (0.3 microM) antagonized the effect of both DSLET and DAMGO. 4. The site of action of the mu- and delta-receptor agonists was on the presynaptic terminals, since at the concentrations which depressed the e.p.s.p. these drugs did not affect the resting membrane potential or input resistance of the postganglionic neurone body, nor did they depress the postganglionic, nicotinic response to exogenously applied acetylcholine. 5. Quantal analysis further confirmed the presynaptic site of action; mu- and delta-opioid receptor agonists decreased the mean number of quanta released per stimulus but did not reduce the mean amplitude of the quantal unit. 6. It was concluded that mu- and delta-opioid receptors were located on the same presynaptic nerve terminals since, in the same neurones, mu- and delta-opioid receptor agonists depressed the same single fibre inputs. 7. The potassium channel blockers barium and quinine, at concentrations known to block opioidactivated somatic potassium conductances, reduced slightly but did not abolish the mu- and delta-opioid receptor-mediated inhibition of the e.p.s.p.

Hyperpolarization of myenteric neurons by opioids does not involve cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate

To investigate the role of cyclic adenosine-3'5'-monophosphate on the inhibitory actions of opioids in guinea-pig ileum, we made intracellular recordings from the two electrophysiologically defined classes of neurons (S and AH) in the myenteric plexus. The selective opioid mu agonist (D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol)-enkephalin caused a membrane hyperpolarization in 34 out of 67 S neurons but did not affect the membrane potential of AH neurons. The mean amplitude (+/- S.E.M.) of the hyperpolarization was 8.2 +/- 0.8 mV. Forskolin, which activates adenylate cyclase and increases intracellular cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate levels, caused a membrane depolarization in AH neurons (9.4 +/- 1.9 mV) but did not alter the resting membrane potential of S neurons. Similarly, neither the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, isobutylmethylxanthine, nor the membrane permeable analogue of cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate, dibutyryl cyclic adenosine-3'-5'-monophosphate, altered the resting membrane properties of S neurons. Furthermore, none of these agents affected significantly the amplitude of the hyperpolarization of S neurons by (D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol)-enkephalin. The experiments indicate that changes in intracellular cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate are not important in the processes that link occupation of mu receptors to the opening of potassium channels on myenteric neurons.

Locus ceruleus discharge characteristics of morphine-dependent rats: effects of naltrexone

Spontaneous and sensory-evoked discharge was recorded from locus ceruleus (LC) neurons of halothane-anesthetized rats that were chronically administered morphine. LC spontaneous discharge rates of morphine-treated rats were comparable to those of rats chronically administered saline. Administration of 1.0 micrograms morphine (i.c.v.), a dose which completely inhibits LC discharge of morphine-naive rats, had no effect on LC spontaneous discharge of morphine-treated rats, demonstrating that opiate tolerance had developed. Naltrexone, 0.3 and 1.0 microgram i.c.v., produced increases in LC spontaneous discharge rates that were 172 and 166% greater than baseline, respectively. Additionally, naltrexone disrupted LC discharge evoked by repeated sciatic nerve stimulation such that evoked discharge was decreased with respect to tonic discharge, and postactivation inhibition was attenuated. Naltrexone did not alter spontaneous or sensory-evoked LC discharge of rats chronically administered saline indicating that these neuronal effects are specific to opiate withdrawal. Pretreatment of rats with dexamethasone, or with an antagonist of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), alpha-helical CRF, did not attenuate the effects of naltrexone on LC discharge of morphine tolerant rats. The present study confirms other reports of LC activation associated with antagonist precipitated opiate withdrawal in vivo, and extends these observations by characterizing the disruptive effect of opiate withdrawal on the response of LC cells to phasically presented sensory stimuli, and demonstrating that the withdrawal response is not mediated by release of endogenous CRF.

Single potassium channels opened by opioids in rat locus ceruleus neurons

Currents through single-ion channels were recorded in the cell-attached configuration from locus ceruleus neurons enzymatically dissociated from newborn rats. When the selective mu opioid receptor agonist Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-MePhe-Gly-ol was in the patch-clamp electrode, unitary inward currents were observed with conductance of approximately 45 pS (measured at zero pipette potential, with 150 mM potassium in the recording electrode). Long silences, lasting many seconds to minutes, separated periods of activity of similar durations. Within such activity periods the distribution of closed times of the channels was best fitted by the sum of two exponential functions (time constants approximately 1 and 30 ms), and the durations of channel openings were fit by a single exponential function; mean open time increased from 2 to 120 ms as agonist concentration increased. Channel activity was not seen when high concentrations of opioids were applied to the neuron outside the patch-clamp recording electrode, indicating intimate coupling between receptor and potassium channel. Unitary currents with similar properties were also seen when pipettes contained alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists or somatostatin. Taken with previous findings, the results indicate that mu opioid receptors, alpha 2 adrenoceptors, and somatostatin receptors can couple directly to membrane potassium channels through the local intermediary action of a GTP binding protein.

The current status of opioid research on gastrointestinal motility

Apparently conflicting data on opioid effects on gastrointestinal motility have been reported in the literature. The current status is reviewed and an attempt is made to find a common denominator to discrepant results by suggesting functionally contrasting opioid systems modulating the same physiological functions. Upon superimposition, these contrasting systems might result in opposite opioid effects dependent on the actual functional balance between the systems at the time of drug administration. Inhibitory neuromodulation at multiple sites leading to either inhibition or disinhibition by opioids may serve as a common basis of their contrasting effects. This interpretation, though consistent with most of the currently available data, is still a working hypothesis.

Morphine tolerance and nonspecific subsensitivity of the longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus preparation of the guinea-pig to inhibitory agonists

1. The sensitivity of the longitudinal smooth muscle/myenteric plexus (LM/MP) to agonists which reduce the amplitude of neurogenic contractions was studied in preparations obtained from animals implanted with either placebo or morphine (75 mg/pellet) pellets 7 days prior. 2. Tolerance or subsensitivity to morphine was observed following chronic treatment with morphine and was revealed as a rightward shift of the concentration-response curve to morphine. The degree of tolerance decayed modestly with time after removal from a morphine containing environment suggesting a time dependence for the loss of subsensitivity to morphine. 3. LM/MP preparations from animals pretreated with morphine also developed subsensitivity to the inhibitory effects of the purine analogue, 2-chloroadenosine. Subsensitivity to 2-chloroadenosine was seen as a parallel rightward shift of the concentration-response curve in morphine-tolerant preparations. The magnitude of the loss in sensitivity was comparable to that observed to morphine. 4. A reduction in sensitivity of the LM/MP following chronic treatment with morphine was also observed to the inhibitory effects of the alpha2 adrenoceptor agonists, clonidine and xylazine. In contrast to the results obtained with morphine and 2-chloroadenosine, the development of subsensitivity to alpha2 adrenoceptor agonists was characterized by a marked reduction in slope and a depression of the maximum response. 5. These data suggest that myenteric neurons possess spare receptors for morphine and 2-chloroadenosine but not for clonidine and xylazine. Furthermore, the studies support the idea that tolerance is associated with a general cellular change or adaptation which impacts on all of these inhibitory substances in such a way as to reduce their efficacy.

Opioid mu and kappa receptors on axons of cholinergic excitatory motor neurons supplying the circular muscle of guinea-pig ileum

In preparations of guinea-pig ileum comprising the circular muscle and the axonal processes of myenteric neurons, electrical stimulation evoked contractions of the circular muscle which were abolished by tetrodotoxin and by hyoscine, indicating that they resulted from action potential-mediated release of acetylcholine. The selective mu opioid agonist, (D-Ala2-N-Me-Phe4-Gly5-ol)-enkephalin (DAGO), and the selective kappa opioid agonist, trans-(+/-)-3,4-dichloro-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl) cyclohexyl) benzeneacetamide, U-50488H, caused concentration-dependent and naloxone-reversible inhibitions of nerve-mediated contractions. The experiments indicate that opioid mu and kappa receptors are present on the axonal processes of cholinergic excitatory motor neurons supplying the circular muscle of the guinea-pig ileum.

The ionic mechanisms underlying opioid actions

Recent experiments using intracellular recording techniques in vitro have revealed that common ionic mechanisms may explain the actions of opioid drugs. Evidence is now available from studies on guinea pig gut myenteric and submucous plexi, from preparations of spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia, from brain slices including the locus coeruleus and from neuroblastoma/glioma hybrid cells. The concensus is that mu opioid receptors activate an outward potassium conductance, possibly by way of adenylate cyclase. Activation of the receptor increases the membrane permeability to potassium ions and thus produces a membrane hyperpolarisation and conductance increase, plus an indirect inhibition of calcium entry during the action potential. Kappa opioids appear to inhibit directly the entry of calcium through voltage-dependent calcium channels, although to date there is no conclusive evidence that this mechanism of action can be extended to neurones of the central nervous system. The mechanism of action of delta opioids has only recently been investigated and initial evidence suggests they increase a potassium conductance similar to that increased by mu opioids. However, work in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells has suggested that in these cells at least, receptor activation depress a component of voltage-dependent calcium current. The link between the receptor and the calcium channel involves a G-protein, Go.

Intracellular recordings from cells in the myenteric plexus of the rat duodenum

Intracellular recordings were made in vitro from neurons in the myenteric plexus of freshly dissected preparations of the duodenum of the rat. Nearly one-quarter of neurons (18 out of 77) had long after-hyperpolarizations following their action potentials. Over 60% of neurons (20 out of 32) which were tested exhaustively by focal stimulation at seven points around the recording site were seen to receive fast excitatory synaptic inputs. These were of very short duration (10-30 ms) and were reversibly blocked by the nicotinic antagonist hexamethonium. Only four out of 18 after-hyperpolarization cells (22%) had visible fast synaptic inputs. Seven out of 32 neurons tested received slow excitatory synaptic inputs lasting up to 60 s that were associated with a decrease in conductance and an increase in excitability. No evidence for muscarinic synaptic potentials was seen; only four cells out of 30 with fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials had slow excitatory synaptic potentials visible after a single-shot stimulus; in none of these were the slow excitatory postsynaptic potentials blocked by atropine (up to 1 x 10(-5) M). No inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were recorded in any of the 77 neurons recorded in this study. The effects of five neurotransmitter candidates (acetylcholine, GABA noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine and substance P) applied by pressure microejection were studied. It is concluded that most of the neurophysiological features reported in the extensively studied guinea-pig small bowel myenteric plexus are present in the rat duodenum. However, the apparent lack of muscarinic synaptic potentials and inhibitory synaptic potentials suggests that there may be some differences between the two species. Our recordings also differ slightly from recently reported studies of rat myenteric neurons grown in cell culture.

Drug receptors on single enteric neurons

There are many substances contained within enteric nerves which excite or inhibit other nerves when these substances are applied to single neurons. The actions of these substances and of drugs which mimic these actions is to open or close membrane ion channels. The effects on membrane potential are dependent on the nature of the ions which pass through the channel and whether the channel is opened or closed. In the enteric nervous system, drugs can act at one of three broad classes of receptors: [1] those which are part of an ion channel complex and which open either cation channels or chloride channels, both of which result in membrane depolarization [2] those which open potassium channels resulting in hyperpolarization or [3] those which close potassium channels resulting in depolarization. Receptors which open potassium channels are coupled to the channel via a G-protein while receptors which close potassium channels are coupled to the channel, in some cases, via a cyclic AMP-dependent system while in other cases another second messenger system is involved.

Dynorphin A selectively reduces a large transient (N-type) calcium current of mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons in cell culture

Opioid receptors are differentially coupled to ion channels. Mu- and delta-opioid receptors are coupled to calcium- and/or voltage-dependent potassium channels and kappa-opioid receptors are coupled to voltage-dependent calcium channels. Using the single-electrode voltage-clamp technique, we investigated the effect of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist dynorphin A on somatic calcium currents of mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in culture. Three different calcium currents were recorded: a small transient current activated positive to -60 mV; a large, inactivating current activated positive to -50 mV; and a moderate, slowly inactivating current activated positive to -40 mV. The first was less sensitive to cadmium block than the others. These calcium currents were similar to those described in other cells, which have been designated T, N, and L calcium currents, respectively. The opioid peptide dynorphin A reduced calcium current by selectively reducing the large inactivating (N) calcium current. Naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, reversed this action of dynorphin A. N calcium current is the predominant calcium current in DRG neurons. If N calcium channels are present in primary afferent terminals, and if they are coupled to kappa-opioid receptors as in the soma, these results suggest a mechanism by which dynorphin A inhibits calcium influx and neurotransmitter release.

Naloxone-induced depolarization and synaptic activation of myenteric neurons in morphine-dependent guinea pig ileum

To investigate the cellular basis of opiate dependence, intracellular microelectrodes were used to record from both electrophysiologically defined classes of neurons (S and AH) in myenteric plexus longitudinal muscle preparations from morphine pretreated guinea pigs. These preparations responded to naloxone with the characteristic contraction of the longitudinal smooth muscle, indicative of morphine dependence. Depolarization in response to naloxone was observed in 42% of S neurons, but there were no consistent changes in input resistance. In some cells the depolarization was reduced or abolished after blockade of synaptic transmission, suggesting that it was due in part to the release of an excitatory transmitter producing a slow depolarization in the impaled neuron. Synaptic activation of S neurons during withdrawal was further indicated by the observation that fast postsynaptic potentials appeared after abrupt displacement of morphine from its receptors by naloxone. Morphine withdrawal, therefore, involves both the final motor neurons and interneurons. During naloxone-induced withdrawal, 25% of S neurons discharged action potentials. In contrast, no action potentials were discharged in AH neurons. Furthermore, naloxone did not alter the resting membrane potential, input resistance, soma action potential configuration, or slow hyperpolarization following a soma spike in AH neurons. The specificity of the withdrawal response for S neurons and the relatively small proportion of neurons involved suggests that morphine withdrawal occurs in quite specific neuronal circuits in the myenteric plexus.

An inhibitory action of tetracyclines on guinea-pig myenteric plexus

In plexus containing preparations of the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum, an inhibitory action of tetracyclines on twitch-responses to electrical field stimulation was found. Tetracycline, chlortetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline, but not oxytetracycline (0.02 to 1.6 mmol/l) caused a concentration-dependent presynaptic inhibition of acetylcholine release. The inhibitory effect of the tetracyclines was also obtained after ganglion block by hexamethonium (30 mumol/l). The inhibitory effect of the tetracyclines was not antagonized by piperoxan (2 mumol/l) or yohimbine (1 mumol/l) and was partly reduced by the presence of naloxone (1 to 50 nmol/l). After exposing the preparation the peptidase inhibitors, i.e., to the combination of bestatin (10 mumol/l), captopril (10 mumol/l) and thiorphan (0.3 mumol/l), the inhibitory effect of tetracyclines was significantly increased. From these results it would appear that twitch-inhibition caused by tetracycline, chlortetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline is mainly mediated via the release of endogenous opioids from the myenteric plexus.

Dynorphin A decreases voltage-dependent calcium conductance of mouse dorsal root ganglion neurones

The actions of the opioid peptides dynorphin A and (Leu)enkephalin were assessed on calcium-dependent action potentials and inward calcium currents recorded from somata of mouse dorsal root ganglion (d.r.g.) neurones grown in primary dissociated cell culture. Dynorphin A and (Leu)enkephalin decreased the duration of somatic calcium-dependent action potentials in a portion of d.r.g. neurones impaled with potassium acetate-filled micropipettes. When substantial potassium conductance was blocked by intracellular injection of caesium acetate, d.r.g. neurones continued to respond to dynorphin A but responses to (Leu)enkephalin were abolished. In voltage-clamp experiments, dynorphin A but not (Leu)enkephalin reduced the magnitude of inward calcium currents. Dynorphin A responses were blocked by the opiate antagonist naloxone. The dynorphin A effect was due to reduction of voltage-dependent calcium conductance since dynorphin A reduced depolarization-evoked inward currents but did not alter membrane conductance following blockade of calcium channels by cadmium, and because dynorphin A reduced the instantaneous current-voltage slope (chord conductance) during step commands that produced maximal activation of voltage-dependent calcium conductance. Dynorphin A binds with high affinity to kappa-opioid receptors. (Leu)enkephalin, which has affinity for both mu- and delta-receptors but not for kappa-opioid receptors, was without effect on calcium conductance. Therefore, we suggest that kappa-receptors are coupled to voltage-dependent calcium-channels and that binding of dynorphin A produces a decrease of calcium current.

Effects of morphine on hexamethonium-sensitive and -resistant excitatory responses of stomach to stimulation of vagal trunk in cats

Electrical stimulation of the vagal trunk with 10 Hz in frequency, 3 ms in duration and 15 volt in intensity for 10 s in cats produced an excitatory response of the stomach and the response was composed of two phases, an initial rapid excitation during stimulation period and the late multi-peak response after stimulation period. The initial response was inhibited by the administrations of hexamethonium (10 mg/kg, i.v.) and atropine (100 micrograms/kg, i.v.). The late response was not inhibited by hexamethonium but was inhibited by atropine (100 micrograms/kg, i.v.). The hexamethonium-sensitive initial excitation was not affected by the administration of morphine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). On the other hand, the hexamethonium-resistant late response was attenuated by the treatment with morphine (1 to 10 mg/kg, i.v.) and GABA (100 to 500 micrograms/kg, i.v.). Such inhibitory actions of morphine and GABA on the late response were antagonized by picrotoxin. From these results, it was concluded that morphine might inhibit specifically the hexamethonium-resistant late excitatory response of the stomach without affecting the hexamethonium-sensitive initial excitatory response and the inhibitory effect of morphine on the late response of stomach might be due to action of GABA released from the intramural neurons of gastric walls in cats.

Actions of morphine and enkephalins on the internal anal sphincter of the cat: relevance for the physiological role of opiates

The effects of Leu-enkephalin, Met-enkephalin and morphine on the electrical activity of the internal anal sphincter were studied in anesthetized spinalized cats and in vitro on sphincteric muscle strips. All the effects of enkephalins and morphine were antagonized by naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.v. in vivo and 10(-6)M in vitro). In vivo, the enkephalins (0.01 mg/kg i.v.) and morphine (2 mg/kg, i.v.) decreased the amplitude of the excitatory responses evoked in the sphincter by stimulation of the hypogastric nerves. Opiates presumably act on the sympathetic nerve endings by reducing the release of noradrenaline. In vitro, the enkephalins (10(-6)M) and morphine (10(-6)M) had a similar inhibitory effect, indicating that opiates act, at least partly, at intramural level. In vivo, the enkephalins and morphine produced an inhibition of the spontaneous electrical activity of the internal anal sphincter. This inhibition occurs also in vitro; it is thus due to a peripheral effect of opiates acting either directly on the sphincteric smooth muscle cells, or through the nervous structures controlling sphincteric motility. In addition, the distribution of nerves containing enkephalin-like immunoreactivity, using whole mount preparations of cat internal anal sphincter, indicates that this area is supplied with a dense Leu- and Met-enkephalinergic innervation. Met- and Leu-enkephalin-like immunoreactive axons were detected within the circular and longitudinal muscles.

Morphine attenuates cholinergic nerve activity in human isolated colonic muscle

The action of morphine on cholinergic nerves in human sigmoid taenia coli muscle strips (taenia) was investigated using a radiolabelling technique. Basal release of tritiated material from taenia was increased by electrical field stimulation (EFS). This increase was tetrodotoxin (3.14 microM)-sensitive and calcium-dependent. Analysis of basal and stimulated release of tritiated material indicated that evoked release (i.e. stimulated minus basal) is almost entirely due to an increase in [3H]-acetylcholine ([3H]-ACh) output. Evoked release of [3H]-ACh was dependent on the current strength and could be greatly reduced by exposing taenia to hemicholinium (34.8, 87.0 microM) before and during incubation with [3H]-choline (4 microCi ml-1, 15 Ci mmol-1). Spontaneous activity, muscle tone and the motor response of taenia to EFS were unaffected by morphine. Evoked, but not basal, release of tritiated material was inhibited by morphine (1.32-13.20 microM) in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition of release was frequency-dependent and naloxone (0.28 microM)-sensitive. The possible relationship between the effects of morphine on cholinergic nerves in taenia muscle and its actions in vivo are discussed.

Effects of morphine and methionine-enkephalin on the smooth muscle tonus and the contraction induced by transmural stimulation in the carp (Cyprinus carpio) intestinal bulb

The effects of morphine and methionine-enkephalin (met-enkephalin) on the smooth muscle tonus and the contraction induced by transmural stimulation were investigated in the isolated intestinal bulb of carp in vitro. Morphine (30 nM-3 microM) and met-enkephalin (3 nM-5 microM) caused dose-dependent non-sustained contraction. Naloxone (10 nM) inhibited the contraction induced by morphine or met-enkephalin in a competitive manner. Tetrodotoxin (400 nM) or atropine (500 nM) did not inhibit the contraction induced by morphine or met-enkephalin. Cooling of the bath fluid from 20 to 10 degrees C decreased nicotine- and transmural stimulation-induced contraction. But met-enkephalin-induced contraction was not affected. Transmural stimulation-induced contraction (3 Hz) was not affected by pretreatment with morphine, met-enkephalin or naloxone. The results demonstrated that morphine or met-enkephalin caused contraction of the smooth muscle directly through the activation of opiate receptors on the smooth muscle cells and neither morphine nor met-enkephalin regulated the cholinergic neurotransmission presynaptically.

mu-Opioid receptors and alpha 2-adrenoceptors coexist on myenteric but not on submucous neurones

Intracellular recordings were made from neurones in the myenteric and submucous plexuses of the guinea-pig ileum. All myenteric neurones that were hyperpolarized by [Met5]enkephalin (or normorphine) were also hyperpolarized by noradrenaline (or clonidine); neurones unaffected by opioids were unaffected by noradrenaline. The hyperpolarizations resulted from an increase in potassium conductance of the membrane and were blocked by the respective antagonists naloxone and idazoxan. Neurones of the submucous plexus were hyperpolarized by noradrenaline but not by normorphine. The results suggest that myenteric neurones possesses both mu-opioid receptors and alpha 2-adrenoceptors whereas submucous neurones have alpha 2-adrenoceptors but not mu-opioid receptors.

Depression by morphine of the excitability of intrinsic inhibitory neurons in the guinea-pig colon

The mechanical responses to morphine were examined in isolated preparations of longitudinal and circular muscle of the guinea-pig colon. In the longitudinal coat, morphine induced a relaxation which was prevented by naloxone, hyoscine and tetrodotoxin. Conversely, in the circular coat morphine caused a contraction which was antagonized by naloxone, mimicked by tetrodotoxin and left unaltered by hyoscine, chlorpheniramine and methysergide. In both muscular layers, morphine depressed (and tetrodotoxin abolished) the non-adrenergic relaxation induced by field stimulation. The action of morphine in the two preparations can thus be explained in terms of inhibition of the tonic excitatory cholinergic or inhibitory non-adrenergic neural control prevailing in the longitudinal and circular muscle respectively.

Opioid inhibition of synaptic transmission in the guinea-pig myenteric plexus

Intracellular recordings were made from neurones in the myenteric plexus of the guinea-pig ileum. Presynaptic nerves were excited by a focal stimulating electrode on an interganglionic strand. Fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (e.p.s.ps) were depressed in amplitude by morphine and [Met5]enkephalin in the concentration range of 1 nM-1 microM. Nicotinic depolarizations evoked by exogenously applied acetylcholine (ACh) were not affected by these opioids. Hyperpolarization of the presynaptic fibres probably contributed to the depression of the fast e.p.s.p. because fast e.p.s.ps evoked by low stimulus voltages were more depressed than those evoked by high stimulus voltages and fast e.p.s.ps resulting from activation of a single presynaptic fibre were blocked in a non-graded manner. Opioids depressed the slow e.p.s.p. in those neurones in which they did not change the resting membrane potential. The slow e.p.s.p. was increased in amplitude in those neurones hyperpolarized by opioids. Depolarizations resulting from application of barium, substance P or ACh were also enhanced by opioids. Equivalent circuit models in which opioids increase, and substance P or ACh decrease, the same potassium conductance could account for this enhancement. The actions of opioids were prevented or reversed by naloxone (1 nM-1 microM). It is concluded that morphine and enkephalin inhibit the release of ACh and a non-cholinergic transmitter from fibres of the myenteric plexus, and that this may involve a hyperpolarization of presynaptic fibres. Additionally, opioids can interact postsynaptically with other substances which affect membrane potassium conductances.