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Specific binding of [3H]-1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG) and (+)-[3H]-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)-piperidine [(+)-3-PPP] to membranes of cultured cardiac myocytes from neonatal rats revealed the presence of sigma receptors on these cells. Exposure of cultured cardiomyocytes to nanomolar concentrations of (+)-3-PPP, (+)-pentazocine and haloperidol induced specific patterns of changes in contractility of electrically paced cultures. The amplitude of systolic cell-motion (ASM) decreased by 10 to 25% 1 to 2 min after drug addition, then transiently increased (3-10 min) and finally decreased to about 75% of control level. Fluorescence measurements on indo-1 loaded cardiomyocytes revealed drug-induced changes in the size of the concentration of free cytosolic calcium ([Ca++]i)-transients, similar to the changes observed in ASM. These changes appear to be mediated by corresponding changes in the rates of 45Ca++ influx which increased 2 to 7 min after the addition of (+)-3-PPP and decrease to 50% of the control level thereafter. Preincubation with thapsigargin, which depletes the sarcoplasmic reticulum-Ca++ stores, did not affect the pattern of changes in ASM, induced by the subsequent addition of (+)-3-PPP. This indicates that the changes in [Ca++]i are not mediated by sarcoplasmic reticulum-Ca++ transport systems. Exposure to sigma ligands did not affect the apparent sensitivity of the myofilaments to Ca++, as indicated by the relationships between changes in ASM and in [Ca++]i-transients. Cultures which were not paced, contracted spontaneously at a constant rhythm. Sigma receptor ligands caused changes in beating frequencies which were followed by irregular contractions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

It has been shown previously that the endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand arachidonylethanolamide (anandamide 20:4, n-6) induces in vivo and in vivo effects typical of a cannabinoid partial agonist. We now report that the synthetic docosahexaenylethanolamide (anandamide 22:6, n-3) shows similar activities. In addition we show that these two anandamides, under certain experimental conditions, antagonize the effects of delta 9-THC both in vivo and in vitro. Thus a significant decrease in the potency of delta 9-THC-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase was observed in N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells that were pretreated with low concentrations of anandamides. At these low concentrations of anandamides had no effect when applied alone. In vivo, Sabra or ICR mice were subjected to a tetrad of tests, designed to detect cannabinoid-induced effects. Mice pretreated (i.p.) with 10 mg/kg of delta 9-THC received injections with anandamides. Only low doses (0.0001-0.1 mg/kg) of the anandamides, which had no effects when administered alone, partially or fully inhibited the THC-induced effects. These findings suggest that the inhibition of delta 9-THC-induced effects by low doses of anandamides may be due to partial agonistic effects of these materials. It is possible that low doses of the anandamides are capable of activating a Gs protein mediated signaling pathway, or may cause an allosteric modulation of the cannabinoid receptor.

Previous in vivo studies revealed that the mixed agonist-antagonist buprenorphine can down-regulate mu and up-regulate delta 2 and kappa 1 opioid receptors in rat brain. In this report brain regional differences in opioid receptor adaptation were addressed. Rats received i.p. injections with buprenorphine (0.5-2.5 mg/kg) and were killed 20 h later. Membranes from 7 brain regions were analyzed for mu (3H-[D-Ala2,N-mephe4,Gly-ol5] enkephalin), kappa 1 (3H-U-69593), delta 1 (3H-[D-Pen2, D-Pen5] enkephalin) and delta 2 (3H-deltorphin II) receptor binding parameters. Buprenorphine induced down-regulation of mu receptors in frontal cortex, occipital cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, striatum and brain stem. Kd values for 3H-[D-Ala2,N-mephe4,Gly-ol5] enkephalin were unchanged from controls. Up-regulation of kappa 1 receptors was observed in frontal, parietal, occipital cortexes and striatum. Binding to delta 2 sites was elevated in frontal and parietal cortexes. Buprenorphine did not alter delta 1 binding in any of the regions examined. Changes in opioid receptor adaptation induced by buprenorphine were further supported by data from cross-linking of 125I-beta-endorphin to cortical membrane preparations. A reduction in a 60- to 65-kDa band was detected in frontal and occipital cortices in which binding assays revealed down-regulation of mu receptors. In parietal cortex neither the 60- to 65-kDa product nor Bmax changes were observed. These results indicate that buprenorphine is a useful tool to study brain opioid receptor adaptation in vivo and the information accrued may be relevant to the mode of action of this drug in the treatment of heroin and cocaine abuse.

Using CHO cells stably transfected with rat mu-opioid receptor cDNA, we show that the mu-agonists morphine and [D-Ala2,N-methyl-Phe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin are negatively coupled to adenylylcyclase and inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Chronic exposure of cells to morphine leads to the rapid development of tolerance. Withdrawal of morphine or [D-Ala2,N-methyl-Phe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin following chronic treatment (by wash or addition of the antagonist naloxone) leads to an immediate increase in cyclase activity (supersensitization or overshoot), which is gradually reversed upon further incubation with naloxone. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors do not affect the overshoot, indicating that it results from cyclase stimulation rather than phosphodiesterase regulation. Morphine's potency to inhibit cAMP accumulation is the same before and after chronic treatment, suggesting that the apparent tolerance results from cyclase activation, rather than from receptor desensitization. The similar kinetics of induction of tolerance and overshoot support this idea. Both the overshoot and acute opioid-induced cyclase inhibition are blocked by naloxone and are pertussis toxin-sensitive, indicating that both phenomena are mediated by the mu-receptor and Gi/G(o) proteins. The supersensitization is cycloheximide-insensitive, indicating that it does not require newly synthesized proteins. This is supported by the rapid development of supersensitization. Taken together, these results show that mu-transfected cells can serve as a model for investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying opiate drug addiction.

The involvement of extracellular matrix components in induction of the aggregation of acetylcholine (AcCho) receptors by factor(s) present in embryonic brain extract was investigated. Embryonic brain extract induced a three-fold increase in the number of AcCho receptor aggregates on the surface of cultured myotubes and a 5- to 10-fold increase in the synthesis of procollagen, which was secreted into the medium and converted to collagen. Adult brain extract, embryonic serum, and embryonic liver extract were less active in stimulating both collagen synthesis and AcCho receptor aggregation. A physiological connection between the two processes is suggested, since the number of AcCho receptor aggregates could be reduced to control levels by treating brain extract-stimulated myotubes with purified bacterial collagenase. In addition, stimulation of collagen secretion by ascorbic acid (50 micrograms/ml) promoted a 1.6-fold increase in AcCho receptor aggregation. When ascorbic acid was added together with the brain extract, further increases in both collagen synthesis and AcCho receptor aggregation were observed.

The role of collagen macromolecules in the aggregation of acetylcholine receptors on the surface of cultured rat muscle cells was investigated. Both the synthesis and secretion of collagen, as well as acetylcholine receptor aggregation were stimulated by treatment of muscle cultures with an embryonic brain extract. Treatments with cis-hydroxyproline or monensin, which interfere with collagen synthesis and secretion, significantly reduced the number of acetylcholine receptor aggregates detected. Incubation of the cultures with embryonic brain extract induced a decrease in extractability of acetylcholine receptors. This effect could be reversed by treating the cells with bacterial collagenase. In addition, affinity purified antibodies against collagen of types I and IV inhibited the aggregation of acetylcholine receptors by stimulated brain extract. These data suggest that neurotrophic factor(s) present in embryonic nerve tissue have the ability to induce collagen production; the collagen formed plays a role in the formation and/or stabilization of acetylcholine receptor aggregates and possibly also of synaptic connections.