morphinans and naltrindole-5--isothiocyanate

The identification of opioid delta receptor subtypes in mouse brain led to the investigation of the nature of the opioid delta receptors in the mouse isolated vas deferens in vitro. Noncumulative concentration-effect curves were constructed for DPDPE (delta 1 agonist) and [D-Ala2, Glu4]deltorphin (delta 2 agonist) in control tissues, or in tissues which had been incubated with either [D-Ala2, Leu5, Cys6] enkephalin (DALCE) (noncompetitive delta 1 antagonist) or 5'-naltrindole isothiocyanate (5'-NTII) (noncompetitive delta 2 antagonist). Incubation of the tissues with DALCE, under either oxygenated or nonoxygenated conditions, did not alter the concentration-effect curves for either agonist. In contrast, incubation of the tissues with 5'-NTII resulted in a significant rightward displacement of the concentration-effect curves of both DPDPE and [D-Ala2, Glu4] deltorphin. Additionally, naltriben, a selective and competitive delta 2 antagonist, showed no significant difference in its ability to antagonize a fixed, submaximal concentration of either DPDPE or [D-Ala2, Glu4]deltorphin. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the affinity of naloxone (i.e., pA2) at the receptor(s) acted upon by either DPDPE or [D-Ala2, Glu4]deltorphin. Tolerance to DPDPE or [D-Ala2, Glu4]deltorphin was produced by incubation of the tissues with these agonists; construction of the [D-Ala2, Glu4]deltorphin concentration-effect curve in DPDPE-tolerant tissues demonstrated cross-tolerance between these agonists and, conversely, construction of DPDPE concentration-effect curves in [D-Ala2, Glu4]deltorphin-tolerant tissues revealed cross-tolerance between these agonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Benzylidene Compounds; Drug Tolerance; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Enkephalins; In Vitro Techniques; Isothiocyanates; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Morphinans; Naltrexone; Oligopeptides; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Thiocyanates; Vas Deferens

The possible involvement of delta 2 opioid receptors in the development of morphine dependence was investigated using selective delta 2 receptor antagonists, naltriben (NTB) and naltrindole 5'-isothiocyanate (5'-NTII). The degree of morphine dependence was estimated by the ED50 values of naloxone (s.c.) required to precipitate withdrawal jumping and diarrhea 72 hr after morphine pellet implantation. NTB administered s.c. as well as naloxone precipitated jumping and diarrhea in morphine-dependent mice. Chronic treatment with 5'-NTII (both i.c.v. and i.t. routes, 24 hr before, just before, 24 and 48 hr after morphine pellet implantation) increased the ED50 values of naloxone for jumping and diarrhea. These results suggest that both supraspinal and spinal delta 2 opioid receptors are involved in the development of physical dependence on systemically administered morphine. However, chronic treatment with NTB (s.c. route, 30 min before, 24 and 48 hr after morphine pellet implantation) failed to affect the ED50 values of naloxone for both withdrawal signs. These seemingly discrepant results suggest that continuous blockade of delta 2 opioid receptors (by a nonequilibrium and long-lasting antagonist, 5'-NTII) rather than intermittent blockade of delta 2 opioid receptors (by an equilibrium and relatively short-acting antagonist, NTB) is necessary to inhibit the development of morphine dependence.

Topics: Animals; Enkephalin, Leucine; Isothiocyanates; Male; Mice; Morphinans; Morphine Dependence; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Thiocyanates

Previous studies from our laboratory have indicated that i.c.v. pretreatment of mice with the novel, selective opioid delta receptor antagonists, [D-Ala2,Leu5,Cys6]enkephalin (DALCE) and naltrindole-5'-isothiocyanate (5'-NTII), differentially antagonized the direct antinociceptive effects of [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) and [D-Ala2]deltorphin II (DELT). These findings, and others, suggested the existence of subtypes of opioid delta receptors which could be classified as activated by DPDPE and DALCE sensitive (delta 1 receptor), or selectively activated by DELT and 5'-NTII sensitive (delta 2 receptor). The present study has extended these observations to the characterization of delta-mediated antinociception effects of DPDPE and DELT after i.t. administration in mice using pretreatment with DALCE and 5'-NTII in order to selectively antagonize the delta subtypes. Additionally, the acute antinociceptive actions of DALCE itself were studied to ensure activity of this compound at the spinal level. The respective antinociceptive A50 value (95% CL) for i.t. DPDPE, DELT and DALCE were 19.0 (12.9-28.1), 19.3 (16.1-23.1) and 2.0 (1.4-3.0) nmol. The delta antagonist, N,N-diallyl-Try-Aib-Aib-Phe-Leu-OH (ICI 174,864) (where Aib is alpha-aminoisobutyric acid) blocked the antinociceptive effects of DPDPE and DELT, but not those of i.t. morphine or [D-Ala2,NMPhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO), indicating that the observed antinociceptive effects of DPDPE and DELT were delta mediated. Pretreatment 24 hr before testing with graded doses of i.t. 5'-NTII blocked the i.t. antinociceptive effects of DPDPE and DELT, although at least a 10-fold higher dose of 5'-NTII was needed to produce equivalent antagonism of DPDPE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Affinity Labels; Analgesics; Animals; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalin, Leucine; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Enkephalins; Isothiocyanates; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Morphinans; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Oligopeptides; Pain Measurement; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Spinal Cord; Thiocyanates

The isothiocyanate group was attached to the 4'-, 5'-, 6'-, or 7'-position of naltrindole in an effort to determine the importance of the position of this electrophilic group on the selectivity for subtypes of delta opioid receptors. All of the ligands were delta-selective when tested against standard agonists in smooth muscle preparations. However, the rank-order delta antagonism of antinociception in mice did not parallel the in vitro pharmacologic data. The 5'-isothiocyanate 2 was the most potent and selective antagonist in vivo, causing a 52-fold increase of the ED50 for [D-Ser2,D-Leu5]enkephalin-Thr6 (DSLET) and no increase for [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE). The effect of each of the ligands on the binding of [3H]DSLET and [3H]DPDPE to guinea pig brain membranes clearly differentiated between the binding sites that recognize these radioligands. These studies provide additional evidence for the presence of two subtypes of delta opioid receptors.

Topics: Animals; Binding, Competitive; Brain; Guinea Pigs; In Vitro Techniques; Isomerism; Isothiocyanates; Male; Mice; Morphinans; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thiocyanates

The present study has investigated the direct opioid delta receptor-mediated antinociception produced by i.c.v. administration of the highly selective delta agonists, [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) and [D-Ala2]deltorphin II, as well as that of the less delta-selective [D-Ser2,Leu5,Thr6]enkephalin (DSLET), by using two novel nonequilibrium opioid antagonists, [D-Ala2,Leu5,Cys6] enkephalin (DALCE) and naltrindole 5'-isothiocyanate (5'-NTII). At times ranging from 8 to 48 hr after a single i.c.v. pretreatment of mice with 5'-NTII, the antinociceptive effects of [D-Ala2] deltorphin II were significantly antagonized. In contrast, 5'-NTII pretreatment at times between 10 min and 24 hr failed to antagonize the antinociceptive effects of DPDPE. Previous studies have shown that pretreatment with i.c.v. DALCE produces a dose- and time-related antagonism of DPDPE, but not morphine, antinociception. However, pretreatment with i.c.v. DALCE failed to antagonize the antinociceptive effects of [D-Ala2]deltorphin II. Similarly, i.c.v. administration of DSLET produced time- and dose-related antinociception which was partially antagonized by either beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA) or by ICI 174,864 (N,N-dialyl-Tyr-Aib-Aib-Phe-Leu-OH), suggesting mixed activity at mu and delta receptors. ICI 174,864 produced essentially complete antagonism of DSLET antinociception in beta-FNA-pretreated mice. Pretreatment with 5'-NTII (at -8 to -48 hr), blocked the antinociception produced by DSLET in control or in beta-FNA-pretreated mice. In contrast, pretreatment with DALCE failed to antagonize the antinociception produced by i.c.v. DSLET in either control or in beta-FNA-pretreated mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalin, Leucine; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Enkephalins; Injections, Intraventricular; Isothiocyanates; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Morphinans; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Oligopeptides; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Thiocyanates

Recently, we demonstrated that delta opioid binding sites are involved in the development of morphine tolerance and dependence. In our present work, we studied the effect of the potent and selective delta antagonist, naltrindole (NTI), and its nonequilibrium analog, naltrindole 5'-isothiocyanate (5'-NTII), on the development of morphine tolerance and dependence in mice. In the acute model, mice injected with 100 mg/kg of morphine sulfate s.c. displayed acute tolerance 4 hr later as evidenced by a greater than 3-fold increase of the ED50 of morphine sulfate when compared to that of control mice. The acute tolerance was accompanied by the development of acute physical dependence as seen by the dramatic decrease in the amount of naloxone required to precipitate withdrawal jumping. Likewise, in the chronic model s.c. implantation of morphine pellets (75 mg free base) for 3 days produced tolerance and physical dependence. The ED50 of morphine sulfate in this case was increased by about 19-fold and the amount of naloxone needed to precipitate withdrawal jumping was 40 times lower than that required for acutely dependent mice. The development of acute tolerance and dependence was suppressed markedly in mice pretreated with NTI before induction of tolerance and dependence with 100 mg/kg of morphine sulfate. Multiple administration of either NTI or 5'-NTII before and during implantation with morphine base pellets also inhibited substantially the development of morphine tolerance and dependence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Drug Implants; Drug Tolerance; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalins; Indoles; Isothiocyanates; Male; Mice; Morphinans; Morphine; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Nociceptors; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Substance-Related Disorders; Thiocyanates

Topics: Affinity Labels; Animals; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Isothiocyanates; Male; Mice; Morphinans; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Thiocyanates