• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1994

It has been shown that there are several subtypes of ${\kappa}$ opioid receptor. We examined ligand binding profiles and the effects of various opioid agonists on high potassium-stimulated release of $[^3H]$ histamine. We have evaluated the properties of $non-{\mu},\;non-{\delta},$ binding of $[^3H]\;DIP\;([^3H]\;diprenorphine),$ anonselective opioid antagonist, in rat cortex membranes. Binding $to\;{\mu}\;and\;{\delta}$ sites was inhibited by the use of an excess of competing selective agonists (DAMGO, DPDPE) for these sites. (-) Ethylketocyclazocine (EKC), DIP and bremazocine inhibited $[^3H]$ DIP binding. However, arylacetamides (U69593 and U50488H) gave little inhibition Replacement of sodium by NMDG and the addition of guanine nucleotide influenced the inhibitory potency of (-) EKC, an agonist for {\kappa}_1-and-{\kappa}_2-binding site, but not of bremazocine. This result suggests that bremazocine can be an antagonist at this binding site. Also, we have examined the opioid modulation of $K^+(30mM)-induced\;[^3H]\;histamine$ release in rat frontal cortex slices labeled with $1-[^3H]\;histidine$. The $[^3H]\; histamine$ release from cortex slices was inhibited by EKC in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the ${\delta}$ receptor selective agonists, DPDPE and deltorphine II, ${\mu}$ receptor agonists, DAMGO and TAPS, ${\kappa}_1-agonists$, U69593 and U50488H, and ${\varepsilon}-agonist,\;{\beta}-endorphin,$ did not. The concentration-response curve of EKC was shifted to right in the presence of naloxone, nor-binaltorphimine and bremazocine, respectively. These results suggest that ${\kappa}_2$ opioid receptor regulates histamine release in the fromtal cortex of the rat.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.305-305
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• 1994

It has been shown that there are several subtypes of $\kappa$ opioid receptor, We have evaluated the properties of non-${\mu}$, non-$\delta$ binding of 〔$^3$H〕DIP, a nonselective opioid antagonist, in rat cortex membranes. Binding to ${\mu}$ and $\delta$ sites was inhibited by the use of an excess of competing selective agonists (DAMGO, DPDPE) for these sites. (-)Ethylketocyclazocine(EKC) inhibited 〔$^3$H〕DIP binding with Ki. of 70 nM. However, arylacetamides (U69593 and U50488H) gave little inhibition. Also, we have examined the opioid modulation of K$\^$+/(30 mM)-induced histamine release in rat frontal cortex slices labeled with 1-〔$^3$H〕histidine. The 〔$^3$H〕histamine release from cortex slices was inhibited by EKC, a $\kappa$$_1$-and $\kappa$$_2$-agonist, in a concentration-dependent manner(10 to 10,000 nM). The IC$\sub$50/ of EKC was 107 ${\pm}$ 6 nM. However, the $\delta$ receptor selective agonists, DPDPE and deltorphine II, ${\mu}$ receptor agonists, DAMGO and TAPS, $\kappa$$_1$-agonists, U69593 and U50488H, and $\varepsilon$-agonist, ${\beta}$-endorphin, did not inhibit histamine release even in micromoiar dose, indicating that ${\mu}$, $\delta$ or $\kappa$$_1$ receptors are not involved. The concentration-response curve of EKC was shifted to right in the presence of naloxone (300 nM), a ${\mu}$ preferential antagonist, norbinaltorphimine(300 nM), a $\kappa$$_1$ preferential antagonist and bremazocine(1 nM), a $\kappa$$_1$-agonist and $\kappa$$_2$-antagonist. These results suggest that $\kappa$$_2$ opioid receptor regulates histamine release in the frontal cortex of the rat.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.153-165
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• 1994

In this study, we tested the influences of several ${\kappa}$ opioid ligands on the $[^3H]diprenorphine$ binding in rat and guinea pig cortex membrane preparations. Using paradigm to block ${\mu}\;and\;{\delta}$ opioid receptors with $DAMGO(1{\mu}M)$ and $DPDPE(1{\mu}M)$, $[^3H]diprenorphine$ labeled ${\kappa}$ sites. Competition analysis in both rat and guinea pig cortex has shown a single population of $[^3H]diprenorphine$ binding site with different Kd values, respectively. There is a significant difference in Ki values of (-) WIN44441 and (+)WIN44441 in both rat and guinea pig cortex. Bremazocine, (-)ethylketocyclazocine, (-)cyclazocine, nor-binaltorphimine effectively inhibited the $[^3H]diprenorphine$ binding with different Ki values in rat and guinea pig cortex. U-69,593, U-50,488H and dynorphine-A (1-8) did not inhibit the $[^3H]diprenorphine$ binding in rat but in guinea pig cortex. Nor-binaltorphimine was a ligand discriminate the ${\kappa}_1$, and ${\kappa}_2$ receptor most effectively. We, also, examined the influence of Na ion and $GTP{\gamma}S$, a nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide analog, on the inhibition of $[^3H]diprenorphine$ binding by diprenorphine, (-)ethyl-ketocyclazocine, U-69,593 and bremazocine. By the replacement of NaCl with N-methy-D-glucamine or addition of $GTP{\gamma}S$, Ki values of diprenorpnine were not changed and that of ethylketocyclazocine were changed significantly in both rat and guinea pig cortex. The Ki value of bremazocine was decreased by removal of Na ion, and increased by $GTP{\gamma}S$, however, was not changed by any one of either. These results suggest that there are 2 kinds of subtypes of ${\kappa}$ opioid receptor, ${\kappa}_1$, and ${\kappa}_2$, showing different Ki values for various ${\kappa}$ opioid ligands, also, bremazocine possess the antagonistic property at ${\kappa}_2$ site which is dominant subtype of K receptor in rat 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.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 1994

Cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) has been frequently accepted as an intracellular messenger for receptor-mediated action of opioids. In this experiment, it was designed to determine the interaction of dopaminergic and opioidergic system in the mouse striatum in normal and chronic haloperidol treated groups. Haloperidol 750ug/kg I.P. for 10 days was performed for dopamine denervation. The morphine, DAGO, DPDPE, and U5O,488H inhibited the increase of haloperidol-induced cyclic AMP content in chronic haloperidol treated mouse striatum. The inhibition of DAGO and DPDPE showed significant increase compared to normal mouse striatum. Naloxone showed antagonistic effect on the morphine and U5O,488H in chronic haloperidol treated group, and showed antagonistic effect on morphine, DAGO, DPDPE, and U5O, 488H in normal mouse striatum. These findings support that there is a functional interrelationship of dopaminergic and opioidergic pathway in the striatum. This result provides an evidence that following destruction of striatal dopaminergic neuron, there are some changes of cAMP content on the ${\mu},\;{\gamma},\;and\;{\kappa}$ opioid receptor, but the ${\kappa}$ opioid receptor still has its function.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 1999

Ischemic damage in the selectively vulnerable populations of neurons is thought to be caused by an abnormal accumulation of intracellular calcium. It has been reported that the neurons, expressing specific calcium binding proteins, might effectively control intracellular calcium concentrations because of a high capacity to buffer intracellular calcium in the brain ischemic condition. It is uncertain that parvalbumin, one of the calcium binding proteins, can protect the neurons from the cerebral ischemic damage. Recently, treatment of kappa opioid agonists increased survival rate, improved neurological function, and decreased tissue damage under the cerebral ischemic condition. Many evidences indicate that these therapeutic effects might result from regulation of calcium concentration. This study was designed to analyze the changes of number in parvalbumin-positive neurons after cerebral ischemic damage according to timepoints after cerebral ischemic induction. In addition, we evaluated the effect of GR89696 (kappa opioid agonist) or naltrexone(non selective opioid antagonist) on the changes of number in parvalbumin expressing neurons under ischemic condition. Cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the common carotid artery of experimental animals. The hippocampal areas were morphometrically analyzed at different time point after ischemic induction(1, 3, 5 days) by using immuno-histochemical technique and imaging analysis system. The number of parvalbumin-positive neurons in hippocampus was significantly reduced at 1 day after ischemia(p<0.05). Furthermore, the number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons was dramatically reduced at 3 and 5 days after cerebral ischemic induction(p<0.05) as compared to 1 day group after ischemia, as well as sham control group. Significant reduction of parvalbumin positive neurons in CA1 region of hippocampus was observed at 1 day after cerebral ischemic induction. However, significant loss of MAP2 immunoreactivity was observed at 3 day after cerebral ischemia. The loss of parvalbumin-positive neurons and MAP2 immunoreactivity in CA1 region was prevented by pre-administration of GR89696 compared to that of saline-treated ischemic group. Furthermore, protective effect of GR89696 partially reversed by pre-treatment of naltrexone. These data indicate that parvalbumin-positive neurons more sensitively responded to cerebral ischemic damage than MAP2 protein. Moreover, this loss of parvalbumin-positive neurons was effectively prevented by the pretreatment of kappa opioid agonist. It was also suggested that the changes of number in parvalbumin-positive neurons could be used as the specific marker to analyze the degree of ischemic neuronal damage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

Ginseng saponin has been shown to inhibit the development of dependence on morphine, cocaine, methamphetamine, but the antinarcotics effects of ginseng on nalbuphine remains still largely unknown. Ginseng administration attenuated the naloxone-induced jumping behavior on nalbuphine dependent mice. The development of morphine dependence was mediated through ${\mu}-opioid$ receptor, however, development of nalbuphine dependence was mediated through ${\kappa}-opioid$ receptor. However, it was found that the efficacy of analgesic antagonism of GTS was mediated through the serotonergic mechanism, not mediated through the opioid receptor. In addition, ginseng administration modulated cellular signal transduction in the brain. The increased NMDA receptor subunit (NR1, pNR1), phosphate extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (pERK), phosphate cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) expression by nalbuphine was decreased by the administration of ginseng powder in cortex, hippocampus, striatum of rat brain. These results suggest that ginseng could be one of the targets of antinarcotic therapies to reduce the development of tolerance and dependence on nalbuphine as well as morphine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.291-299
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• 2000

Morphine or butorphanol was continuously infused into cerebroventricle (i.c.v.) with the rate of $26\;nmol/{\mu}l/h$ for 3 days, and the withdrawal from opioid was rendered 7 hrs after the stopping of infusion. The expression of physical dependence produced by these opioids was evaluated by measuring the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs. The withdrawal signs produced in animals dependent on butorphanol (kappa opioid receptor agonist) were similar to those of morphine (mu opioid receptor agonist). Besides the behavioral modifications, opioid withdrawal affected G protein expression in the central nervous system. The G-protein ${\alpha}-subunit$ has been implicated in opioid tolerance and withdrawal. The effects of continuous infusion of morphine or butorphanol on the modulation of G protein ${\alpha}-subunit$ mRNA were investigated by using in situ hybridization study. In situ hybridization showed that the levels of $G\;{\alpha}s$ and $G\;{\alpha}i$ were changed during opioid withdrawal. Specifically, the level of $G\;{\alpha}s$ mRNA was decreased in the cortex and cerebellar granule layer during the morphine and butorphanol withdrawal. The level of $G\;{\alpha}i$ mRNA was decreased in the dentate gyrus and cerebellar granule layer during the morphine withdrawal. However, the level of $G\;{\alpha}i$ mRNA was significantly elevated during the butorphanol withdrawal. These results suggest that region-specific changes of G protein ${\alpha}-subunit$ mRNA were involved in the withdrawal from morphine and butorphanol.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.108-117
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• 2003

Objective : The central opioid mechanism of acupuncture analgesia has been fairly well documented in acute behavioral experiments, but little electrophysiological study has been performed on the peripheral mechanism and subtypes of opioid receptors responsible for acupuncture-induced antinociception in chronic animal models. In the present electrophysiological experiment, we studied the peripheral mechanism and opioid receptor subtypes which Were implicated in electroacupuncture-induced antinociception in the rat with chronic inflammatory and neurogenic pain. Methods : In the rat with complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammation and spinal nerve injury, dorsal horn cell responses to afferent C fiber stimulation were recorded before and after electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation applied to the contralateral Zusanli point for 30 minutes. Also studied Were the effects of specific opioid receptor antagonists and naloxone methiodide, which can not cross the blood-brain barrier, on EA-induced inhibitory action. Results : EA-induced inhibitory action was significantly attenuated by naloxone methiodide, suggesting that EA-induced inhibition was mediated through peripheral mechanism. Pretreatment, but not posttreatment of naltrexone and spinal application significantly blocked EA-induced inhibitory actions. In inflammatory and neurogenic pain models, ${\mu}-$ and ${\delta}-opioid$ receptor antagonists (${\beta}-funaltrexamine$ & naltrindole) significantly reduced EA-induced inhibitory action, but ${\kappa}-opioid$ receptor antagonist had weak inhibitory effect on EA-induced antinociception. Conclusion : These results suggest that 2Hz EA-stimulation induced antinoeiceptive action is mediated through peripheral as well as central mechanism, and mainly through ${\mu}-$ and ${\delta}-opioid$ receptors.