TL;DR: The nonadditivity of the inhibitory effects of DTLET and DAGO on basal or forskolin-induced activation of adenylate cyclase suggested that mu and delta receptors were colocalized on a similar subpopulation of striatal cells in primary culture.
Abstract: Primary cultures of pure populations of neuronal or glial cells from the striatum, the cerebral cortex, and the mesencephalon of the mouse embryo were used to look for the presence of opiate receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase. Leu-enkephalin inhibited cAMP production in membranes of embryonic striatal neurons but not in those of other cell types examined. Mu and delta opiate receptors seemed to be coupled negatively to adenylate cyclase in embryonic striatal neurons. It was found that DTLET (a selective delta agonist), as well as DAGO (a selective mu agonist), inhibited cAMP production on these cells. DTLET but not, however, DAGO produced a similar effect on homogenates from the adult rat striatum and on membranes from the neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell line NG 108-15, two preparations known to possess only delta receptors negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase. The selective kappa agonist U 50.488 was ineffective on all types of membrane preparations used. The inhibitory effects of both DTLET and DAGO on basal adenylate cyclase activity in striatal neurons were reversed by naloxone with a similar efficacy. Two other selective mu agonists, trimu 5 and morphiceptin, inhibited cAMP production in membranes of striatal neurons as well. The nonadditivity of the inhibitory effects of DTLET and DAGO on basal or forskolin-induced activation of adenylate cyclase suggested that mu and delta receptors were colocalized on a similar subpopulation of striatal cells in primary culture. These cells possess dopaminergic receptors of the D1 subtype as well since the amplitude of the inhibitory effects of DTLET and DAGO on cAMP production was increased in the presence of dopamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
TL;DR: Modifications of the sequence of TRIMU 4 produced a peptide that exhibits mu selectivity close to that of DAGO, and a hexapeptide series derived from DSLET was shown to be very efficient in improving delta recognition and delta selectivity appeared also to be modulated by the nature of the sixth residue.
Abstract: The previous rules proposed for selective recognition of mu and delta opioid receptors by modified enkephalins were investigated through an extensive structure-activity study. Thus, modifications of the sequence of TRIMU 4 (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-NHCH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3)2, a peptide that exhibits mu selectivity close to that of DAGO (Try-D-Ala-Gly-N(Me)Phe-Gly.ol), were performed for two positions, 2 and 4, critical for mu recognition. The drastic loss of potency following introduction of L-Ala or Aib in position 2 emphasizes the importance of the stereochemistry and the steric size of the X2 amino acid for optimal mu binding. The enhancement of the intrinsic flexibility of the C-terminal alkyl chain of TRIMU 4 through removal of a methyl group leads to TRIMU 5 (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-NHCH2CH2CH(CH3)2), a peptide with a mu selectivity similar to that of DAGO. In contrast, introduction of an O-tert-butyl Ser2 residue increases affinity for delta receptors. In the hexapeptide series derived from DSLET (Tyr-D-Ser-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr), a D-Thr2 moiety was shown to be very efficient in improving delta recognition and delta selectivity appeared also to be modulated by the nature of the sixth residue. The potencies of the 24 peptides studied to inhibit the electrically evoked contractions of the GPI or MVD are relatively well correlated with their affinities for brain mu or delta receptors labeled with [3H]DAGO or [3H]DSLET, respectively. Moreover, the analgesic potency (hot plate test) of the peptides is related to their affinity for rat brain mu receptors. The wide range of receptor affinities exhibited by the compounds reported here could be useful to study the physiological role of mu and delta receptors.
TL;DR: The analysis of the functions of the enkephalinergic system can now be investigated by using recently designed selective mu, delta, delta agonists or antagonists and kelatorphan a complete inhibitor of enkphalin metabolism.
Abstract: The research on endogenous opioid is only a decade old but the considerable number and the variety of studies devoted to this subject suggest that these neuropeptides might play a pivotal role in various biological functions. The most abundant opioid peptides enkephalins are synthesized as large precursors. They bind to several classes of receptors as mu and delta types and are degraded by specific enzymes (aminopeptidase M, enkephalinase, dipeptidylaminopeptidase) belonging to the group of metallopeptidases. The analysis of the functions of the enkephalinergic system can now be investigated by using recently designed selective mu (DAGO, TRIMU 5), delta (DTLET, DEPDPE), kappa (U 50, 488) agonists or antagonists (ICI 174, 864 for the delta type) and kelatorphan a complete inhibitor of enkephalin metabolism. The former probes were obtained by a rational approach based on the conformational adaptability of the endogenous peptides while inhibitors of enkephalin degrading enzymes were designed by taking into account crystallographic data on metallopeptidases. mu and delta receptors present distinct distributions in the brain. Enkephalinase visualized by autoradiography seems to be closely associated with opioid receptors. Pain control could be insured in brain structures by mu receptor-stimulation whereas both mu and delta types might be involved at the level of the spinal cord. In both cases, a "physiological" analgesia is produced by kelatorphan.
TL;DR: TRIMU-5 is a highly selective mixed μ2 opioid receptor agonist/μ1 opioid receptor antagonist and coadministered with morphine into the periaqueductal gray of rats reversed the analgesia seen with morphine alone.