• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2009

This study was designed to investigate direct effects of [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin, a $\delta$-opioid receptor agonist on the neuronal activity of medial vestibular nuclear (MVN) neurons by whole-cell configuration patch clamp experiments. The spike frequency of MVN neuron was increased to $9.50{\pm}0.55$ (P<0.05) and $10.56{\pm}0.66$ (P<0.05) by 5 and $10{\mu}M$ [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin from the control level of $8.05{\pm}0.55$ spikes/sec, respectively (n=18). The resting membrane potential of the neurons was increased to $-37.86{\pm}0.92$ and $-36.97{\pm}0.97$ (P<0.05) from $-38.74{\pm}1.13\;mV$ by 5 and $10{\mu}M$ [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin, respectively. The amplitude of afterhyperpolarization was decreased to $23.78{\pm}0.65$ and $21.67{\pm}0.89$ (P<0.05) from $23.73{\pm}0.53\;mV$ by 5 and $10{\mu}M$ [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin, respectively. The spike width was changed to $2.22{\pm}0.08$ and $2.24{\pm}0.07$ from $2.20{\pm}0.08\;mV$ by 5 and $10{\mu}M$ [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin, respectively. After pretreatment of naltrindole, a highly selective 8-opioid receptor antagonist, [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin did not change firing rate, resting membrane potential, afterhyperpolarization amplitude, and spike width of MVN neurons. The above experimental results suggest that [D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$]-enkephalin increases the neuronal activity of MVN neurons via inhibition of calcium-dependent potassium currents underlying the afterhyperpolarization.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 1997

The effect of total saponin fraction of Ginseng injected intrathecally (i.1.) or in- tracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) on the antinociception induced by D-$Pen^{2,5}$- enkephalin (DPDPE) ad ministered i.c.v. was studied in ICR mice in the present study. The antinociception was assessed by the tail-flick test. Total saponin fraction at doses 0.1 to 1.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$, which administered i.t. Alone did not affect the latencies of tail-flick threshold, attenuated dose-dependently the inhibition of the tail-flick response induced by i.c.v. administered DPDPE (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$). However, total saponin fraction at doses 1 to 20 $\mu\textrm{g}$, which administered i.c.v. Alone did not affect the latencies of the tail-flick response, did not affect i.c.v. administered DPDPE (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$)-induced antinociception. The duration of antagonistic action of total saponin fraction against DPDPE-induced antlnociception was lasted at least for 6 hrs. Various doses of ginsenosides Rd, but not $\Rb_2$, Rc, Rg1, and $\Rb_1$ and Re, injected i.t. Dose-dependently attenuated antinociception induced by DPDPE administered i.c.v. Our results indicate that total saponin fraction injected spinally appears to have antagonistic action against the antinociception induced by supraspinally applied DPDPE. Ginsenoside Rd appears to be responsible for blocking j.c.v. administered DPDPE-induced antinociception. On the other hand, total ginseng fraction, at supraspinal sites, may not have an antagonistic action against the antinociception induced by DPDPE.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 1995

The modulatory effects of total ginseng saponin (TGS) on the 1, 6, and opioid receptor binding in morphine tolerance and dependence were examined in this study. The specific [$^{3}H$]DAGO ([D-$Ala^2$, N-$Mephe^4$, $Glyco^4$] enkephalin) binding was significantly increased in chronic morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) treated mouse striatum. The specific [$^{3}H$]DPDPE ([D-$Pen^2$, D-$Pen^5$] enkephalin) binding was ignificantly increased following morphine treatment in the mouse striatum and cortex. Also, an apparent decrease in the affinity of [$^{3}H$]DPN (diprenorphine) was observed after chronic morphine treatment in mouse striatum and cortex. 7GS produced a sleight increase of specific [$^{3}H$]DAGO, [$^{3}H$]DPDPE binding and a significant increase of specific [$^{3}H$]DPN binding in the mouse brain striatum. In cortex, TGS produced an inhibition of specific [$^{3}H$]DAGO and [$^{3}H$]DPDPE binding and increase of the specific [$^{3}H$]DPN binding. The prolonged administration of TGS (25, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, i.p., 3 wks) produced an inhibition of increased [$^{3}H$]DAGO specific binding following morphine without significant changes in the agonist binding to and receptors in mouse striatum and cortex. These contracted alterations in $\mu$, $\gamma$ and $\kappa$ opiate receptor binding were dependent in TGS dogs and brain sites.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-3
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• 2003

To investigate the receptors mediating the regulation of norepinephrine (NE) release in human cerebral cortex slices, we examined the effects of opioid agonists for ${\mu}$-, ${\delta}$-, and ${\kappa}$-receptors on the high potassium (15 mM)-evoked release of [$^3H$]NE. [$^3H$]NE release induced by high potassium was calcium-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive. [$D-Pen^2$, $D-Pen^5$]enkephalin (DPDPE) and deltorphin II (Delt II) inhibited the stimulated release of norepinephrine in a dose-dependent manner. However, Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(Me)Phe-Gly-ol and U69,593 did not influence the NE release. Inhibitory effect of DPDPE and Delt-II was antagonized by naloxone, naltrindole, 7-benzylidenaltrexone and naltriben. These results suggest that both ${\delta}_1$ and ${\delta}_2$ receptors are involved in regulation of NE release in human cerebral cortex.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 1994

Our purpose was to gain insight into a possible modulatory role for ${\mu},\;{\delta},\;and\;{\kappa}$ opioid receptors by neuroleptics (chlorpromazine, thioridazine, haloperidol, sulpiride, and pimozide) in chronic morphine 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg treated mouse striatum. We attempted quantitative receptor assays using highly specific radioligands, $[^3H]\;DAGO\;([D-Ala^2,\;N-Mephe^4,\;Glycol^5]\;enkephalin)$, $[^3H]DPDPE\;([D-Pen^2,\;D-Pen^5]\;enkephalin)$ and $[^3H]\;DPN(diprenorphine)$ to measure the binding affinity in the experimental groups. The decrease of $[^3H]DAGO$ binding was potentiated by sulpiride and pimozide in the chronic morphine treatment (5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg). The decrease of $[^3H]DPDPE$ binding was inhibited by chlorpromazine, thioridazine, haloperidol, sulpiride, and pimozide in chronic morphine treatment (5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg). The decrease of $[^3H]\;DPN$ binding was significantly inhibited by chlorpromazine, thioridazine, sulpiride, and pimozide in chronic morphine 20 mg/kg treatment. $[^3H]\;DPN$ binding on the neuroleptics was antagonized by naloxone pretreatment in chronic morphine 20 mg/kg treatment. These findings suggest that neuroleptics influence opposing tonically active on the ${\delta},\;and\;{\kappa}$ opioid receptor compared with ${\mu}$ opioid receptor in the chronic morphine treated mouse striatum.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Opioid receptors have been pharmacologically classified as ${\mu}$, ${\delta}$, ${\kappa}$ and ${\varepsilon}$. We have recently reported that the antinociceptive effect of morphine (a ${\mu}$-opioid receptor agonist), but not that of ${\beta}$-endorphin (a novel ${\mu}/{\varepsilon}$-opioid receptor agonist), is attenuated by whole body irradiation (WBI). It is unclear at present whether WBI has differential effects on the antinociceptive effects of ${\mu}-$, ${\delta}-$, ${\kappa}-$ and ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptor agonists. In our current experiments, male ICR mice were exposed to WBI (5Gy) from a $^{60}Co$ gamma-source and the antinociceptive effects of opioid receptor agonists were assessed two hours later using the hot water ($52^{\circ}C$) tail-immersion test. Morphine and $D-Ala^2$, $N-Me-Phe^4$, Gly-olenkephalin (DAMGO), [$D-Pen^2-D-Pen^5$] enkephalin (DPDPE), trans-3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]-benzeneacetamide (U50,488H), and ${\beta}$-endorphin were tested as agonists for ${\mu}$, ${\delta}$, ${\kappa}$, and ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptors, respectively. WBI significantly attenuated the antinociceptive effects of morphine and DAMGO, but increased those of ${\beta}$-endorphin. The antinociceptive effects of DPDPE and U50,488H were not affected by WBI. In addition, to more preciously understand the differential effects of WBI on ${\mu}-$ and ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptor agonists, we assessed pretreatment effects of ${\beta}$-funaltrexamine (${\beta}$-FNA, a ${\mu}$-opioid receptor antagonist) or ${\beta}$-$endorphin_{1-27}$ (${\beta}$-$EP_{1-27}$, an ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptor antagonist), and found that pretreatment with ${\beta}$-FNA significantly attenuated the antinociceptive effects of morphine and ${\beta}$-endorphin by WBI. ${\beta}$-$EP_{1-27}$ significantly reversed the attenuation of morphine by WBI and significantly attenuated the increased effects of ${\beta}$-endorphin by WBI. The results demonstrate differential sensitivities of opioid receptors to WBI, especially for ${\mu}-$ and ${\varepsilon}$-opioid receptors.