The effect of µ-opioid receptor activation on GABAergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn

The superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord plays an important role in pain transmission and opioid activity. Several studies have demonstrated that opioids modulate pain transmission, and the activation of µ-opioid receptors (MORs) by opioids contributes to analgesic effects in the spinal cord. However, the effect of the activation of MORs on GABAergic interneurons and the contribution to the analgesic effect are much less clear. In this study, using transgenic mice, which allow the identification of GABAergic interneurons, we investigated how the activation of MORs affects the excitability of GABAergic interneurons and synaptic transmission between primary nociceptive afferent and GABAergic interneurons. We found that a selective µ-opioid agonist, [D-Ala², NMe-Phe⁴, Gly-ol]-enkephanlin (DAMGO), induced an outward current mediated by K⁺ channels in GABAergic interneurons. In addition, DAMGO reduced the amplitude of evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) of GABAergic interneurons which receive monosynaptic inputs from primary nociceptive C fibers. Taken together, we found that DAMGO reduced the excitability of GABAergic interneurons and synaptic transmission between primary nociceptive C fibers and GABAergic interneurons. These results suggest one possibility that suppression of GABAergic interneurons by DMAGO may reduce the inhibition on secondary GABAergic interneurons, which increase the inhibition of the secondary GABAergic interneurons to excitatory neurons in the spinal dorsal horn. In this circumstance, the sum of excitation of the entire spinal network will control the pain transmission.

DAMGO modulates two-pore domain K⁺ channels in the substantia gelatinosa neurons of rat spinal cord

The analgesic mechanism of opioids is known to decrease the excitability of substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons receiving the synaptic inputs from primary nociceptive afferent fiber by increasing inwardly rectifying K⁺ current. In this study, we examined whether a µ-opioid agonist, [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO), affects the two-pore domain K⁺ channel (K2P) current in rat SG neurons using a slice whole-cell patch clamp technique. Also we confirmed which subtypes of K2P channels were associated with DAMGO-induced currents, measuring the expression of K2P channel in whole spinal cord and SG region. DAMGO caused a robust hyperpolarization and outward current in the SG neurons, which developed almost instantaneously and did not show any time-dependent inactivation. Half of the SG neurons exhibited a linear I~V relationship of the DAMGO-induced current, whereas rest of the neurons displayed inward rectification. In SG neurons with a linear I~V relationship of DAMGO-induced current, the reversal potential was close to the K⁺ equilibrium potentials. The mRNA expression of TWIK (tandem of pore domains in a weak inwardly rectifying K⁺ channel) related acid-sensitive K⁺ channel (TASK) 1 and 3 was found in the SG region and a low pH (6.4) significantly blocked the DAMGO-induced K⁺ current. Taken together, the DAMGO-induced hyperpolarization at resting membrane potential and subsequent decrease in excitability of SG neurons can be carried by the two-pore domain K⁺ channel (TASK1 and 3) in addition to inwardly rectifying K⁺ channel.

Effect of μ-opioid receptor agonist on acute lung injury induced by trauma-LPS two hits in rat model / 临床麻醉学杂志

Objective To explore the effect of μ-opioid receptor agonist on acute lung injury in-duced by trauma-LPS two hits in rat model.Methods Thirty-two aduld SD rats,were randomized in four groups(n=8):normal control group(group N),blank control group(group B),DAMGO group (group D)and DAMGO+CTOP group(group DC).A rat model was made by intraperitoneal injection of LPS at 6 hours after fracturing bilateral thighbone.Group N didn’t receive trauma and LPS,only anesthesia.The rats in group D received 200 μg/kg of DAMGO,group DC received 600 μg/kg of CTOP and 200 μg/kg of DAMGO,group B obtained the same amount of saline.6 hours after treat-ment,the arterial blood was collected for blood gas analysis,the lungs was harvested to observe lung tissue pathology change and dry-weight/wet-weight ratio,and the levels of MDA,TNF-α,IL-6,SOD activities in lung tissue were determined.Results The results of pathological observation showed that there was obvious inflammatory reaction in lung tissues after two-hits.Compared with group D, PaO2 ,pH and dry-weight/wet-weight ratio were significantly lower in group B and group DC(P <0.05),The score of Smith were significantly increased(P <0.05).The levels of MDA,TNF-α,IL-6 in lung tissue were significantly reduced in group D than those in group B and group DC(P <0.05), SOD activities in group D were significantly higher than those in group B and group DC(P <0.05 ). Conclusion μ-Opioid receptor DAMGO agonist has protective effect on acute lung injury induced by trauma-LPS two hits in rat model.

Investigation of Orphanin FQ-stimulated 35SGTPgammaS Binding in the Whole Brain of Mice: Does Orphanin FQ Have Anti-opioid Effect in the Level of Receptor-ligand Interaction and 35SGTPgammaS Activation? / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was examined whether or not the orphanin FQ (OFQ)-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS activity interact with DAMGO in the whole brain of mice. METHODS: ICR mice (male, n = 20, 20-25 g) were euthanized for the membrane preparations. In the agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding dose-response curves by OFQ, Ro-64-6198 and DAMGO, the EC50 (effective concentration 50, nM) and maximum stimulation (% over basal) were determined in the presence or absence of J-113397 (10 nM), a NOP (nociceptin-opioid peptide) receptor antagonist. OFQ (1micrometer), Ro-64-6198 (10micrometer), DAMGO (10micrometer) and their combination cocktail were used to determine the interaction between the NOP and MOP (micron-opioid peptide) receptor. RESULTS: The values of EC50 and maximum stimulation of [35S]GTPgammaS binding were as follows: OFQ (9.2 +/- 0.2 nM/17.9 +/- 0.1%), Ro-64-6198 (143.5 +/- 0.5 nM/18.1 +/- 0.4%), and DAMGO (680.6 +/- 0.7 nM/18.1 +/- 0.5%). J-113397 produced a 8.7 and 7.1 fold rightward shifting in the OFQ and Ro-64-6198-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding dose-response curve respectively, but not in the DAMGO. OFQ combined with DAMGO-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding had an additive effect, but not in the OFQ combined with Ro-64-6198. CONCLUSIONS: OFQ, Ro-64-6198 and DAMGO-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding in the brain of mice has receptor selectivity. The [35S]GTPgammaS stimulation of OFQ and DAMGO had an additive effect rather than an anti-opioid effect on the level of intracellular signal transduction through agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS bindings.