u-50488 and chlornaltrexamine

Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) desensitization was previously shown to follow agonist-dependent phosphorylation of serine 369 by G-protein receptor kinase (GRK) and beta-arrestin binding in transfected cells. To study the in vivo effects induced by phosphorylation of KOR(S369), C57Bl/6 mice were administered single or repeated doses of the KOR agonist, U50,488, and isolated brain glycoprotein was probed with an antibody, KOR-P, that specifically recognized phosphoserine 369 KOR. Western blot analysis using KOR-P antibody showed that labeling intensity increased after either single or repeated treatment of mice with U50,488 by 59 +/- 22% and 101 +/- 29%, respectively. In contrast, there was no change in labeling intensity by nonphosphoselective KOR antibodies following acute or chronic in vivo treatment with kappa agonist. Moreover, mice lacking GRK3 showed no increase in KOR-P labeling and developed significantly less analgesic tolerance following treatment with kappa agonist. The result suggests that tolerance to kappa agonists includes phosphorylation of serine 369 within KOR by GRK3. Recovery of analgesic potency and reduction of elevated KOR-P labeling in wild-type mice both required 2 weeks to return to base line. Consistent with these results, in vitro phosphorylation by GRK3 of KOR isolated from tolerant mice resulted in 46 +/- 7% less (32)P incorporation than in KOR isolated from untreated mice. In addition, in vitro (32)P incorporation returned to base line levels only in KOR isolated from tolerant mice allowed to recover for 2 weeks. The coincident reversal of analgesic tolerance and slow return to a basal phosphorylation state matched the regeneration rate of functional kappa receptors following irreversible antagonism and suggested that receptor replacement rather than dephosphorylation was required to restore sensitivity.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Cell Line; Drug Tolerance; G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Naltrexone; Phosphorylation; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Receptors, Opioid, kappa

The R1.1 mouse thymoma cell line expresses a single class of kappa opioid receptors that is negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase through a Bordetella pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding protein. The aim of the present study was to determine whether chronic opioid treatment of R1.1 cells altered either the binding properties or the functional response associated with the kappa opioid receptor. Culturing of R1.1 cells with the kappa-selective agonist (trans)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl] benzeneacetamide methane-sulfonate hydrate (U50,488) for 3 hr and longer, followed by extensive washing of R1.1 cell membranes, produced a concentration- and time-dependent reduction in the binding of the kappa-selective ligand (5 alpha,7 alpha,8 beta)-(-)-N-methyl-N-(7-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1- oxaspiro(4,5)dec-8-yl) benzeneacetamide ([3H]U69,593). Culturing of R1.1 cells with 100 nM U50,488 for 24 hr produced approximately a 50% reduction in the Bmax value for [3H]U69,593 and [3H]naloxone binding. In contrast to the reduction in binding, there was no change in the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity by (-)-U50,488. To determine whether kappa opioid receptor function was maintained by spare receptors after agonist-induced down-regulation, membranes from untreated R1.1 cells were incubated with 400 nM of the irreversible opioid antagonist beta-chlornaltrexamine (beta-CNA) followed by extensive washing. beta-CNA produced a 50% reduction in the [3H]U69,593 binding and a 6-fold increase in the IC50 value for (-)-U50,488 inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity, with no change in the maximal inhibition of cyclic AMP levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Adenylate Cyclase Toxin; Adenylyl Cyclases; Animals; Benzeneacetamides; Cell Membrane; Down-Regulation; In Vitro Techniques; Mice; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Pertussis Toxin; Pyrrolidines; Receptors, Opioid, kappa; Thymoma; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Virulence Factors, Bordetella

Previously, we showed that kappa-selective ligands inhibit adenylyl cyclase in guinea pig cerebellar membranes. The present studies explore the relationship between kappa 1 binding sites (as determined with [3H]U-69,593 binding) and kappa 1-inhibition of adenylyl cyclase (using U-50,488H) in guinea pig brain membranes. Various kappa opioids displaced [3H]U-69,593 binding at a single site with subnanomolar affinities. These agonists were several hundred-fold weaker in inhibiting adenylyl cyclase, but for most agonists the rank order of adenylyl cyclase inhibition paralleled the displacement of kappa 1 binding. The correlation of IC50 values for both adenylyl cyclase and binding was significant except for alpha-neo endorphin, which was relatively weak at inhibiting adenylyl cyclase despite a Ki value of 0.08 nM versus kappa 1 binding. Comparison between kappa 1 binding and kappa 1-inhibited adenylyl cyclase across eleven guinea pig brain regions revealed that kappa 1-inhibited adenylyl cyclase was highest in the cerebellum, absent in thalamus and superior colliculus, and moderate in other regions. In most regions, kappa 1 binding correlated with the efficacy of kappa 1-inhibited adenylyl cyclase. However, the hippocampus had high levels of kappa 1-inhibited adenylyl cyclase despite low levels of kappa 1 binding, while cortex exhibited a high density of kappa 1 sites but a relatively low level of kappa 1-inhibited adenylyl cyclase. Reaction of cerebellar kappa receptors with beta-chlornaltrexamine (beta-CNA) blocked both kappa 1 binding and kappa 1-inhibited adenylyl cyclase. The effect of beta-CNA on kappa 1-inhibited adenylyl cyclase was to inhibit efficacy with little decrease in agonist potency, thus suggesting no significant level of kappa receptor reserve for this effector system.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; Animals; Benzeneacetamides; Binding Sites; Cerebellum; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guinea Pigs; Hippocampus; Naltrexone; Pyrrolidines; Receptors, Opioid, kappa

Nitrous oxide antinociception in the abdominal constriction test was significantly reduced in mice pretreated intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with beta-chlornaltrexamine (beta-CNA). However, this antagonism was reversed when the beta-CNA was co-administered i.c.v. with the kappa-opioid ligand U-50,488H but not the mu-opioid ligand CTOP. These findings further demonstrate that nitrous oxide antinociception in the mouse abdominal constriction paradigm is mediated by kappa- but not mu-opioid receptors.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Analgesia; Analgesics; Animals; Fentanyl; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Nitrous Oxide; Pain; Pyrrolidines; Sufentanil

1. Ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) and U50,488H have been employed widely as kappa-receptor agonists in the study of opioid receptor systems. However, the quantification of their agonism in terms of affinities and relative efficacies has not been investigated. 2. In this study, operational model-fitting was used to analyse the effects of irreversible receptor alkylation by beta-chlornaltrexamine (beta-CNA) on the kappa-receptor mediated effects of EKC and U50,488H in the isolated, coaxially stimulated ileum of the guinea-pig. 3. EKC produced monophasic inhibitory concentration-effect curves which were readily amenable to analysis. In contrast U50,488H produced biphasic curves characterized by a higher potency phase of agonism that was susceptible to antagonism by 16-methylcyprenorphine (RX8008M) and a lower potency phase that was apparently non-opioid in nature. 4. Analysis of the kappa-receptor-mediated effects of both agonists indicated that EKC has fifteen fold higher affinity than U50,488H and that the two agonists possess similar intrinsic efficacies.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Analgesics; Animals; Binding, Competitive; Cyclazocine; Electric Stimulation; Ethylketocyclazocine; Guinea Pigs; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Models, Biological; Morphinans; Muscle, Smooth; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Pyrrolidines; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, kappa

The irreversible non-selective opioid antagonist beta-chlornaltrexamine (beta-CNA) was used in combination with selective mu receptor protection by [D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]enkephalin (DAGO) to produce an effective kappa receptor antagonism in the guinea-pig field-stimulated ileum preparation. Using a standard pre-treatment of 10(-7) M beta-CNA incubated for 15 min, DAG (10(-6)-10(-4) M) protected the response to the mu agonist normorphine while reducing the antagonism of the kappa agonist U50488 to a lesser extent. The concentration of DAGO which produced the most selective protection was 10(-5) M. This method was used to find the kappa selectivity of a series of opioid agonists. Of the compounds tested, butorphanol, dynorphin-(1-17), U50488, tifluadom, bremazocine and Mr 2034 were the most kappa-selective. The correlation with kappa agonist selectivity in vitro and effects in vitro on urine output in the rat is demonstrated.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Animals; Diuresis; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalins; Guinea Pigs; Ileum; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Morphine Derivatives; Naltrexone; Pyrrolidines; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, kappa