guanylyl-imidodiphosphate and naltrindole

1. We have previously shown that weaning at day 21 increases delta-opioid receptor binding in the brain at day 25, which might be due to stimulation of the development of a delta-opioid receptor subtype or activation of G-protein coupling processes. 2. We have addressed the possibility that weaning stimulates coupling of the delta-receptor by homogenate binding studies with four agonist and one antagonist radioligand in the presence of a GTP analogue and Na+ in brain tissue from weaned and non-weaned animals. 3. Saturation studies with three agonist ligands ([3H]-deltorphin I, [3H]-S-Atc-Ile(5,6)deltorphin I and [3H]-R-Atc-Ile(5,6)deltorphin II) showed higher levels of maximal binding in brains from 25-day weaned than in brains from non-weaned rats. The magnitude of the effects of GMPPNP and Na+ in decreasing this binding was ligand dependent and in each case was significantly more marked in brains from weaned animals. GMPPNP and Na+ were completely without effect on Bmax for, [3H]-S-Atc-Ile(5,6)deltorphin I and [3H]-R-Atc-Ile(5,6)deltorphin II in brains from non-weaned rats. 4. [3H]-Ile(5,6)deltorphin II and [3H]-naltrindole showed no differences in labelling between weaned and non-weaned groups and both groups responded similarly to the effects of GMPPNP and Na+ treatment. 5. GMPPNP and Na+ had small effects on binding affinity (K(D)) for some of the agonist radioligands which were similar in both weaned and non-weaned groups. 6. Weaning induced increases in binding of delta-receptors in 25-day rats can be explained in terms of the way delta-agonist radioligands recognize the receptor environment.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; In Vitro Techniques; Ligands; Naltrexone; Oligopeptides; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Sodium; Weaning

Since beta-endorphin is the putative endogenous ligand for epsilon-opioid receptors, the previous demonstration of saturable, high affinity beta-endorphin binding sites on bovine pineal membranes suggests the possible presence of epsilon-opioid receptors. To determine the identity of pineal beta-endorphin binding sites, the inhibition of [125I]beta-endorphin binding by ligands with varying affinities for epsilon-, mu-, delta- or kappa-opioid receptors was investigated. A high positive correlation was observed between the Ki values for these drugs to inhibit [125I]beta-endorphin binding to pineal membranes and for these drugs to bind to delta-opioid receptors but not to mu-, kappa- or epsilon-opioid receptors, demonstrating that in the pineal beta-endorphin binds to delta-opioid receptors. Both NaCl and a GTP analogue were potent inhibitors of [125I]beta-endorphin binding, providing evidence that beta-endorphin is an agonist at pineal delta-opioid receptors. These results suggest that endogenous bovine beta-endorphin may modulate pineal function.

Topics: Animals; beta-Endorphin; Binding, Competitive; Cattle; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; In Vitro Techniques; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Pineal Gland; Receptors, Opioid, delta

Naltrindole (NTI) is a potent and selective nonpeptide delta opioid receptor antagonist. This study reports on the binding characteristics of [3H]NTI (specific activity = 30.5 Ci/mmole) for mouse brain and vas deferens (MVD) tissues. In brain, [3H]NTI had unusually high specific binding to delta receptors (80% at its Kd concentration) relative to other selective delta receptor radioligands. Saturation Kd values with 95% confidence intervals for mouse brain and MVD tissue preparations were 56.2 (41.8-75.7) and 104 (25.8-420) pM, respectively. These Kd values were significantly different (P = .028) and [3H]NTI binding to both tissues was best fit by a one-site model. Receptor densities were 83.9 (66.8-106) fmol/mg of protein for mouse brain and 14.8 (7.03-31.2) fmol/mg of protein for the MVD. Binding inhibition studies showed that NTI and the delta opioid receptor agonists [4'-Cl-Phe4]DPDPE and [D-Ala2, Glu4]deltorphin had high affinity for the sites labeled by [3H]NTI in both tissue preparations whereas mu [Tyr-Pro-psi-MePhe-D-Pro-NH2 (PL-17)] and kappa (U-69593) agonists had micromolar affinity. Both agonists recognized multiple sites in mouse brain under control (with 5 mM Mg++) and treatment (with 50 microM guanylyl-5'-imido-diphosphate and 100 mM NaCl) conditions but only single-site binding was observed for MVD (only control condition tested). [D-Ala2, Glu4]deltorphin showed about 6.5-fold selectivity for a portion (approximately 33%) of mouse brain sites (Ki = 130 pM) compared to sites labeled by [3H]NTI in MVD (Ki = 1200 pM) under control conditions. No significant difference was observed for [4'-Cl-Phe4]DPDPE binding affinity to both tissues (Ki = 450-680 pM) under control conditions. The affinity of opioid agonists, but not antagonists at [3H]NTI binding sites in mouse brain, was substantially reduced by the presence of guanylyl-5'-imidodiphosphate and sodium ions consistent with guanine nucleotide-binding protein regulation of the delta receptors. The portions of high- and low-affinity sites recognized by [4'-Cl-Phe4]DPDPE and [D-Ala2, Glu4]deltorphin in mouse brain labeled by [3H]NTI under treatment conditions were not significantly different (each subtype represented approximately 50% of the total population) suggesting delta receptor heterogeneity in this tissue. It is concluded that [3H]NTI binds to delta opioid receptor affinity states and subtypes with equal affinity and can be used for their characterization in conjunction with different t

Topics: Animals; Brain; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalins; Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Vas Deferens

In the mouse vas deferens, naltrindole gave pKB values of 9.7, 8.3, and 7.5 at the delta-, mu-, and kappa-sites and in binding assays, pIC50 values of 9.6, 7.8 and 7.2 at the same sites. The affinity of naltrindole for the delta binding site was increased in the presence of sodium ions and 5'-guanylylimidophosphate. Naltrindole is, thus, a potent opioid antagonist with marked selectivity for the delta-opioid receptor.

Topics: Animals; Electric Stimulation; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalins; Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; Guinea Pigs; In Vitro Techniques; Indoles; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Morphinans; Muscle, Smooth; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Receptors, Opioid, kappa; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Sodium; Vas Deferens