Release of prolactin in response to microinjection of morphine into mesencephalic dorsal raphe nucleus

Morphine but not Naloxone Enhances Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Neuronal Responsiveness to Norepinephrine

Some axon terminals of hypothalamic opiate neurons directly synapse on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons. To determine whether such synaptic connections affect LHRH neuronal activity, we have examined the profiles and concentrations of LH released in response to intracerebroventricular (icv) norepinephrine (NE, 45 μg) infusions alone or following medial preoptic area (MPOA) electrochemical stimulation (ECS) in estrogen-treated ovariectomized rats. Similar studies were performed in rats treated with naloxone (5 mg/kg ip) or morphine (20 mg/kg sc) given 15 min prior to MPOA-ECS or 30 min prior to icv NE. Naloxone neither augmented nor suppressed the LH response obtained with NE alone. MPOA-ECS evoked a significant increase in plasma LH. When the preoptic area was stimulated (0 min) and NE was infused at 30 min, a significant amplification of LH release occurred. Prior treatment of rats (-15 min) with naloxone had no effect on LH responses elicited by either preoptic stimulation alone or combined with icv NE. In the second study, morphine was given sc and had no effect on basal plasma LH levels. However, when morphine was given (-15 min) and icv NE infusions were made (30 min), the rise in plasma LH induced by NE was significantly enhanced. Preoptic ECS (0 min) evoked a rise in plasma LH and this response was also enhanced by morphine pretreatment. The major effect on LH release occurred when sc morphine injections (-15 min) were combined with MPOA-ECS (0 min) followed by icv NE (30 min). In these rats, a remarkable and highly significant release of LH occurred which reached peak levels even greater than those observed during spontaneous LH surges (2,392 versus 16 to 1,800 ng/ml). Since morphine has profound effects on the serotonergic system, in the third series of studies, morphine was infused into the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and LH responses to MPOA-ECS or icv NE alone or following combined ECS + NE were examined. DRN morphine did not affect basal LH release but it produced a rapid and highly significant rise in plasma prolactin. When DRN morphine was given (-15 min) and NE was infused icv (30 min), there was marked amplification in LH release compared to those values observed after only NE. However, there were no appreciable differences in LH values obtained after sc versus DRN morphine injections in response to NE. Similarly, the amplification of LH release which occurred following DRN morphine (-15 min) + MPOA-ECS (0 min) was not different from that obtained after sc morphine. In the final group of rats, DRN morphine was given (-15 min), the preoptic area was stimulated (0 min) and NE was infused (30 min). Following this treatment, plasma LH release was also markedly enhanced and did not differ appreciably (except at 60 and 120 min) from the levels of LH released after sc morphine. Prolactin concentrations rose slowly after icv NE to reach peak levels 75 min after treatment. Combinations of morphine + MPOA-ECS without or with NE neither augmented nor suppressed the high prolactin concentrations achieved after only DRN morphine infusions. We conclude from these data that: 1) those opiate neuronal terminals which synapse directly on LHRH neurons do not affect LHRH neuronal responsiveness to either NE, to MPOA-ECS or to combined preoptic stimulation+ NE, and 2) morphine has profound effects on LHRH neuronal responsiveness to both NE, to MPOA-ECS and, in particular, to combined ECS + NE. Since amplification of LH release occurs after treatment of rats with morphine either by sc injections or DRN infusions, the augmented LH and prolactin responses observed are most likely due to the morphine-induced release of serotonin and not to direct morphine effects on LHRH neurons.

Mesencephalic sites of action of an enkephalin analogue (D-Met2, Pro5)-enkephalinamide and naloxone on the anterior pituitary of male rats

(D-Met2, Pro5)-Enkephalinamide and naloxone injected into the dorsal raphe nucleus affected luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) release. Drugs given into the reticular tegmental nucleus and dorsal part of the periaqueductal gray matter induced a PRL response and their administration into the central superior midbrain raphe nucleus caused changes in growth hormone (GH) secretion. The inferior colliculus and the lateral part of the periaqueductal gray matter were ineffective sites.

Central nervous system sites of action of an enkephalin analogue, (d-met, pro)-enkephalinamide, and naloxone on the secretion of five anterior pituitary hormones of male rats

Abstract Central nervous system sites of action of opioid peptides on pituitary hormone secretion were investigated. One nmol of an enkephalin analogue, (D-Met(2), Pro(5))-enkephalinamide, and 10 nmol of the opiate antagonist naloxone were injected into ten different regions of the brain of conscious male rats and their effect on the release of five anterior pituitary hormones tested. The injections were made through a special injection cannula which was inserted into the brain through a guide cannula fixed on the skull and implanted into the brain 5 to 7 days earlier. Both compounds injected into the medial septum, medial preoptic area and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus affected prolactin, growth hormone and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. The enkephalin analogue stimulated prolactin and growth hormone and inhibited LH release. Naloxone induced the opposite effect. Drugs given into the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus caused changes in plasma prolactin and growth hormone levels. Enkephalinamide increased and naloxone decreased plasma concentrations of both hormones. Administration of the compounds into the dorsal raphe area resulted in alterations of prolactin and LH release, the analogue caused elevation of prolactin and inhibition of LH release, whereas the opiate antagonist resulted in opposite changes. Only an LH response was obtained from the hypothalamic dorsomedial nucleus and a growth hormone response from the central amygdala. Also in these cases the enkephalin analogue decreased LH and elevated growth hormone plasma levels, and naloxone brought about a rise in LH and a diminution of growth hormone concentration. None of the regions were effective in inducing a clear-cut adrenocorticotrophin or follicle-stimulating hormone response. The parietal cortex, medial amygdala and the dentate gyrus were entirely ineffective sites. The findings suggest that in the brain there are multiple sites of action of opioids on pituitary trophic hormone secretion and the effective sites are not identical in terms of pituitary hormone response.

A model of chronic pain in the rat: high-resolution neuroanatomical approach identifies alterations in multiple opioid systems in the periaqueductal grey

Inoculation of the tail base of rats with Mycobacterium butyricum led to an arthritic swelling and inflammation of the limbs which displayed a hyperalgesia to noxious pressure: these effects peaked at 3 weeks postinoculation. In vitro autoradiography of coronal sections of rat brain was used for a parallel determination of binding to mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid binding sites. In only two regions, the dorsomedial and dorsolateral parts of the periaqueductal grey (PAG), was a significant change seen: this comprised an increase in binding to kappa-sites, whereas mu- and delta-sites therein were unaffected. This region was analysed for opioid peptides derived from each of the three opioid peptide families known. While no change was seen in levels of immunoreactive (ir)-dynorphin1-17 A (DYN) and ir-Met-enkephalin, a decrease was detected in those of ir-beta-endorphin (beta-EP): this change was restricted to the PAG. These data demonstrate a highly localized and selective influence of chronic arthritic pain upon multiple opioid systems in the PAG of the rat, a structure playing a key role in the control of pain and in the expression of the antinociceptive actions of opioids. The data suggest a possible significance of PAG pools of beta-EP and kappa-receptors in the response to and modulation of chronic pain.

Activation of periaqueductal grey pools of beta-endorphin by analgetic electrical stimulation in freely moving rats

Electrical stimulation of the ventral midbrain periaqueductal grey (PAG) elicited an antinociception (analgesia) in freely moving rats. Stimulated animals displayed a pronounced decrease in levels of immunoreactive (ir)-beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in the midbrain PAG. This depletion was selective in that: animals placed in the chamber and not stimulated revealed neither an analgesia nor an alteration in levels of ir-beta-EP. No change in levels of ir-beta-EP was detectable in other brain regions. Both stimulated rats and rats placed in the chamber and not stimulated revealed a rise in circulating ir-beta-EP: the magnitude of this rise did not, however, differ between these groups. Levels of ir-Met-enkephalin, ir-Leu-enkephalin and ir-dynorphin A were modified neither in the PAG nor in other CNS tissues. The data demonstrate that electrical stimulation of the midbrain PAG selectively influences (presumably activates) pools of beta-EP therein. Together with our finding that destruction of PAG-localized beta-EP neurones to block stimulation-analgesia, the data suggest that an activation of intrinsic pools of beta-EP underlies stimulation-produced analgesia elicited from the PAG in the rat.

Site of action for beta-endorphin-induced changes in plasma luteinizing hormone and prolactin in the ovariectomized rat

A number of sites have been hypothesized as loci at which opioid substances act to alter the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) (1-8). The aim of the present study was to determine the site(s) at which the opioid peptide beta-endorphin (beta-END) acts to influence plasma LH and PRL levels in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat. beta-END, administered into the third ventricle of conscious OVX rats fitted with jugular catheters, significantly decreased plasma LH in doses greater than or equal to 50 ng and increased PRL levels at all doses administered (10, 50, 100 and 250 ng) in a dose dependent fashion. To identify possible central nervous system sites of action, 250 ng beta-END was unilaterally infused into various brain sites. Plasma LH was significantly decreased and plasma PRL significantly increased by infusions into the ventromedial hypothalamic area, the anterior hypothalamic area, and the preoptic-septal area. There was no significant effect of beta-END infusions into the lateral hypothalamic area, amygdala, midbrain central gray, or caudate nucleus. When hemipituitaries of OVX rats were incubated in vitro with beta-END (10(-7)M to 10(-5)M), there was no suppression of basal or LHRH-induced LH release, nor was there any alteration of basal PRL release. It is concluded that beta-END acts at a medial hypothalamic and/or preoptic-septal site and not the pituitary, to alter secretion of LH and PRL.

Brain opiates and neuroendocrine function

Opioid peptides are found throughout the central nervous system, and have profound effects on neuroendocrine function. In man, exogenous opiates and opioids elevate circulating prolactin, GH and TSH, and suppress the release of the gonadotrophins and pro-opiocortin-related peptides. However, unlike in other species, there is substantial evidence for a physiological role of endogenous opioids only in the case of the gonadotrophins and ACTH/LPH. Most evidence suggests that LH and FSH are modulated via the hypothalamus or amygdala, where concentrations of opioids and opioid receptors are very high. Endogenous opioids appear to be principally concerned with the frequency-modulated release of GnRH, and this may be important clinically in patients presenting with amenorrhoea. ACTH/LPH are under tonic inhibition by endogenous opioids acting at hypothalamic and/or pituitary levels, and changes in this inhibition may be responsible for the release of these peptides in response to certain forms of stress. It has been reported that the opiate antagonist, naloxone, is clinically useful in paradoxically inhibiting the release of ACTH in patients with Nelson's syndrome, but this requires adequate confirmation. Vasopressin is under biphasic opiate control, but the principal effect is probably opiate-mediated inhibition of vasopressin release. The endogenous ligand for this response is likely to be dynorphin. Suppression of vasopressin release by opiates may become a useful therapy in the treatment of the 'Syndrome of inappropriate ADH'.