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Biomedical subjects

N M Lee

Publications and source records attributed to N M Lee.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Treatment of stroke with opiate antagonists--effects of exogenous antagonists and dynorphin 1-13.

We studied the effects of acute and long-term, continuous administration of six opioid compounds--naloxone, naltrexone, diprenorphine, leucine enkephalin, dynorphin 1-13, and dynorphin 3-13--on neurologic function, survival, and infarct size in a feline model of acute focal cerebral ischemia. Acutely, naloxone, naltrexone, and diprenorphine significantly improved motor function over baseline scores; the other drugs and saline (control) had no effect. In the long-term condition, no substance administered significantly affected level of consciousness, sensory function, or pupillary reactions. Naloxone, naltrexone, and dynorphin 1-13 significantly prolonged survival (p less than 0.1); the other substances had no effect. Evaluations of cat brains postmortem showed that the infarcts involved the sensory and motor cortex, internal capsule, and caudate nucleus. Infarct size was unaltered by any treatment administered; results among groups were remarkably similar. In evaluations of opiate receptor binding characteristics, high-affinity binding of ekylketocyclozocine was significantly reduced in the right (occluded) side of the cortex. Dynorphin 1-13 given 8 h postocclusion but before sacrifice increased this binding affinity to the previous level in non-occluded cortex. The observed protective effect of dynorphin 1-13 warrants further investigation. Our results support the involvement of endogenous opioid peptides in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia and suggest that, administered appropriately, opiate antagonists may be useful in the treatment of focal ischemic neurologic deficits.

Acute Disease↗

Dynorphin A: inhibitory effect on other opiate ligand bindings in the mouse brain.

The opioid peptide dynorphin A antagonizes morphine-induced analgesia in vivo and inhibits opiate binding in vitro, although most of it is rapidly degraded under both conditions. The inhibitory effect was present even in tissue treated in vivo with dynorphin A and assayed in vitro without it. Shorter fragments of this peptide lacked these effects, indicating that the apparent potency did not result from a metabolite. Na+ ion specifically reversed both agonist and antagonist binding from in vitro inhibition by dynorphin A. These results are discussed in terms of current opioid receptor theories.

Animals↗

Dynorphin1-13: interaction with other opiate ligand bindings in vitro.

Dynorphin1-13 is a potent inhibitor of electrically-induced contractions in the guinea pig ileum, where it has the properties of kappa-(ethylketocyclazocine) type opioids. In the brain, however, it has no analgesic potency, yet inhibits that induced by morphine. To gain further insight into its mechanism of action in the latter system, we tested its ability to compete for the binding of several opiates to brain membranes in vitro. Dynorphin1-13 inhibited the binding of all ligands examined, including dihydromorphine, D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin, ethylketacyclazocine (EKC) and naloxone. In all cases, it reduced the number of high affinity sites and, in the case of EKC, it also increased the Kd. We conclude that the mechanism of dynorphin inhibition is not simple rapidly reversible competition and is certainly not identical with respect to all opiate ligands.

Animals↗

[Leu5]enkephalin containing peptides derived from a common precursor: evaluation of opioid activity in in vitro bioassays.

Opioid peptides containing the sequence of [Leu5]enkephalin were studied in two isolated organ preparations sensitive to opiates, the guinea pig ileum (GPI) and the mouse was deferens (MVD). All peptides tested were able to inhibit the electrically stimulated contraction in both tissues by interacting with specific receptors sensitive to the antagonist naloxone. Some of these peptides, mainly the shorter sequences, showed considerable potency differences in the two systems, suggesting that at least two different types of receptors are involved. Dynorphin-(1-17) displayed the highest agonistic potency in both preparations. In its case, there were no differences in IC50s nor in the shapes of the dose response curves in the two systems, suggesting a common receptor type; however, the reversal of its inhibitory effect following washout of the peptide was much more complete in the MVD than in GPI. Dynorphin B exhibited a higher potency in the GPI. Extension to dynorphin B-29 peptide did not induce changes in the agonistic activity in either system. An increase in one amino acid residue, dynorphin-(1-9) to -(1-10) or beta-neo-endorphin to alpha-neo-endorphin, resulted in a large potency increase in GPI and an opposite effect in MVD. While it has been reported that dynorphin interacts with the kappa opiate receptor in both mouse vas deferens and guinea pig ileum, our results suggest that the observable differences in the kinetics of the interaction in these systems could be due to the presence of different receptor types in these tissues.

Animals↗

Opioid-like properties of seven dynorphin (1-10) analogs.

In order to disassociate the k action of dynorphin from its other actions, seven analogs were synthesized and evaluated for pharmacologic activity in comparison with dynorphin (1-13) and dynorphin amide (1-10). Dynorphin (1-10) was modified by protecting the terminal carboxy group, incorporating thioproline at position 10 and substituting methionine for leucine at position 5. All analogs exhibited the ability to inhibit electrically-induced twitches of the guinea pig ileum and mouse vas deferens in a manner that was dose dependent and naloxone reversible. The decapeptide terminating with a pyrrolidine group showed the highest potency in the ilea and mouse vas deferens. None of the analogs showed analgetic activity by the mouse tail flick test. Binding studies using mouse brain synaptosomes showed that all seven analogs can displace the binding of tritiated dihydromorphine (DHM), ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) and D-Ala-D-Leucine enkephalin (DADL). The alterations in chemical structure affected affinity of the analogs to the opiate receptor and their pharmacologic properties differently, suggesting that different opiate subtypes may be involved.

Animals↗

Opiate activity of peptides derived from the three opioid peptide families on the rat vas deferens.

The inhibitory activity of opioid peptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), pro-enkephalin A and pro-enkephalin B (= pro-dynorphin) on the electrically evoked twitch of the rat vas deferens (RVD) was evaluated. The POMC-derived beta-endorphin exhibits the greatest potency on this preparation. In addition, all peptides derived from pro-enkephalin A show full agonistic activity with BAM-22P and peptide E as the most potent peptides. In contrast, the majority of peptides derived from pro-enkephalin B (= pro-dynorphin) were essentially inactive on this tissue. Moreover, no antagonistic properties of these peptides were demonstrable in this preparation; thus the opioid receptors present in the RVD (putative epsilon receptors) might not possess any particular affinity for the pro-enkephalin B derived peptides.

Animals↗

Dynorphin B-29: chemical synthesis and pharmacological properties in opioid systems in vitro.

Porcine dynorphin B-29 was synthesized by solid phase procedures and purified using gel filtration, ion exchange, reverse phase liquid chromatography and preparative high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Binding experiments using brain tissue indicated this peptide displaced mu and k ligands equally well and had significant, though less, affinity for delta. In isolated tissue systems, its potency ranked as follows: guinea pig ileum, mouse vas, rabbit vas, and rat vas. Interestingly, all IC50s were reduced in the presence of peptidase inhibitors, particularly in the rabbit vas. These results indicate that dynorphin B-29 like dynorphin, interacts with multiple receptors in the brain, as well as in isolated tissue systems.

Animals↗

[3H]Ethylketocyclazocine binding to mouse brain membranes: evidence for a kappa opioid receptor type.

The binding of the putative kappa agonist ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) to synaptosomal membranes of mouse brain was studied. This benzomorphan was able to bind to different opioid receptors. A portion of this binding was not inhibited by the agonist naloxone, even at high concentrations (10 microM). This population of receptors, to which opioate alkaloids and opiod peptides display very low affinity, is probably the sigma receptor. Another class of binding sites was identified by the simultaneous addition of the selective agonists Sandoz FK-33824 and D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin, which blocked the access of EKC to mu and delta opioid receptors, respectively, leaving a portion of naloxone-displaceable benzomorphan binding still detectable. Analysis of this remaining binding revealed a small population of receptors of high affinity, the kappa receptor. Therefore, EKC binds to the mu, delta, kappa and sigma receptors in the mouse brain, with similar affinities for the mu and kappa (0.22 and 0.15 nM). These results confirm the existence of a kappa opioid receptor type in the mouse brain.

Animals↗

Dynorphin inhibition of the neurotensin contractile activity on the myenteric plexus.

Nanomolar concentrations of neurotensin caused a dose-dependent contraction of the longitudinal muscle layer of the guinea-pig ileum. The contractile activity of neurotensin was partially blocked by tetrodotoxin or atropine, indicating that a component of the neurotensin-mediated contraction is indirect in nature and likely involves the release of endogenous acetylcholine from nervous terminals in the myenteric plexus. Dynorphin and related peptide fragments also blocked in part the neurotensin contraction; the potency of this opioid peptide was about the same as that of atropine. Other peptides and alkaloids tested for ability to block the neurotensin contractures included the enkephalins, beta-endorphin, normorphine and the ketocyclazocines; all these opioids inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion the neuronal component of the excitatory effect of neurotensin. The potency of these compounds to reduce the contractions of neurotensin showed good correlation with the potency of these agents to depress by 50% the electrically evoked neuromuscular twitches in the same tissue (r = 0.99); in these tests dynorphin was found to be the most potent of the endogenous opioid-like peptides. The dynorphin blockade was selective to the excitatory effect of neurotensin because the opioid peptide did not antagonize the contractile action of acetylcholine, histamine, substance P, angiotensin II, bradykinin, Ba++ or K+ ions. In addition, somatostatin, vasointestinal peptide, gastrin or adenosine did not modify the potency of neurotensin whereas thyrotropin releasing hormone and epinephrine caused a modest doubling of the neurotensin EC50. The inhibitory action of dynorphin was reduced in the presence of naloxone, suggesting that the interaction involved opiate receptors. Morphine tolerance was not extended to the inhibitory action of dynorphin as evidenced by the finding that the potency of dynorphin-(1-13) to block the neurotensin responses was increased after chronic morphine exposure. In contrast, the potency of dynorphin-(1-13) was significantly reduced in tissues rendered tolerant to the action of ketocyclazocine or ethylketocyclazocine, suggesting that the action of dynorphin could be partially mediated via occupation of K-opiate receptors. Thus, a cholinergic-neuronal component activated by neurotensin on the myenteric plexus appears to be under the inhibitory influence of opiate receptors, suggesting that dynorphin may play a role in the modulation of cholinergic synapses on the enteric nervous system.

Animals↗

Effect of dynorphin-(1-13) and related peptides on respiratory rate and morphine-induced respiratory rate depression.

Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that the opioid peptide dynorphin-(1-13), although not analgesic when given by itself, can inhibit morphine-induced analgesia in naive mice and potentiate it in morphine tolerant mice. In the present study, we examined the effect of dynorphin-(1-13) with two other dynorphin-like peptides, alpha-neoendorphin and dynorphin-(1-10) amide, on respiration. Our results show that none of the peptides studied had any significant activity on the respiratory rate in mice when given alone. However, in the presence of morphine, dynorphin-(1-13) antagonized the morphine-induced respiratory rate depression in morphine-tolerant animals; alpha-neoendorphin enhanced the morphine-induced respiratory rate depression in naive but had no effect in morphine-tolerant animals and dynorphin-(1-10) amide had no modulatory effect on the morphine-induced respiratory rate depression in either group of animals.

Animals↗

Dynorphin-(1-13): the effect of in vivo treatment on opiate bindings in vitro.

Mice were injected intracerebroventricularly with different doses of dynorphin-(1-13) in vivo and decapitated after different intervals of time; crude P2 fractions were then prepared and used for in vitro binding with [3H]dihydromorphine (DHM) and [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin. Dynorphin pretreatment was found to decrease DHM binding in vitro in a both time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. Its maximal effect lasted from 30 min to 3 h and recovery took place in 6-12 h. Analysis of the Scatchard plots showed that dynorphin decreased the number of high affinity-binding site for DHM, while KD of this site was essentially unaltered. Neither Bmax nor KD of low affinity site were much affected. A similar decrease in high affinity Bmax for DADLE was also obtained; however, the recovery was even more rapid. Extra washes of tissue did not significantly increase the binding, but preincubation of tissue in the presence of morphine reversed the dynorphin effect and increased DHM binding significantly to almost control levels. The probable mechanism of dynorphin in decreasing opiate receptor binding is discussed.

Animals↗

Differential modification of opiate receptor activity by arylsulfatase treatment.

Treatment with the enzyme arylsulfatase in vivo selectively attenuated the effect of analgesia induced by morphine, beta-endorphin or ethylketocyclazocine but not that induced by Sandoz FK33824 or D-ala2-D-leu5-enkephalin. The effect on morphine analgesia was indicated both by an increased morphine ED50 in the presence of a fixed dose of naloxone and by a decreased naloxone ED50 in the presence of a fixed dose of morphine. Arylsulfatase treatment in vivo also selectively affected in vitro ligand binding; Bmax values of the low affinity binding site of dihydromorphine, naloxone, D-ala2-D-leu5-enkephalin, D-ala2-met5-enkephalinamide and ethylketocyclazocine were decreased significantly while the Bmax values of the high affinity sites as well as the KD values of both the high and low affinity sites were affected little or not at all. The data suggest that the change induced by the enzyme may have been due to the alteration of certain constituents of the low affinity opiate binding site.

Analgesia↗

Effect of human B-endorphin on the binding of different opiates to mouse brain membranes.

The competition of human B-endorphin (B-EP) for dihydromorphine (DHM) and D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin (DADLE) binding sites has been studied at three temperatures, 0 degree, 25 degrees, and 37 degrees C. B-EP is more effective in inhibiting mu and delta binding at 0 degree and 25 degrees than at 37 degrees C. This difference does not seem related to a temperature-dependent degradation of the peptide. DHM and DADLE high affinity binding sites are clearly distinguished by B-EP. The high affinity site for DHM and the low of DADLE are the more easily displaced by B-EP, but with different affinities. These sites are different in binding capacities, although distinct stoichiometric ratios of binding or the existence of isoreceptors could account for their identity.

Animals↗

Endogenous opioid peptides: comparative evaluation of their receptor affinities in the mouse brain.

The affinities of certain endogenous opioid peptides and related sequences for mu, delta and k opiate receptors have been determined in membrane preparations from mouse brain. It was found that the KIs for the delta receptor changed very little when the sequence of the enkephalins was enlarged; on the contrary, the mu and especially the k activity were highly dependent not only on the specificity of the sequence but also on the length of the peptide. Most of the peptides have similar affinities for more than one receptor type. The enkephalins are the most selective for the delta receptor. beta-Endorphin, BAM-12P, BAM-22P, peptide E and dynorphin A display the best potency at the mu site. Dynorphin A (1-8), dynorphin A and dynorphin B are the most selective for the k site.

Animals↗

In vivo incorporation of a cholesterol-like fluorescent probe into rat brain membranes.

The incorporation of the fluorescent sterol analog, cholesta-5,7,9-trien-3 beta-ol, into rat brain P2 fractions and its feasibility to detect membrane perturbations by polarization analysis were evaluated. This investigation involved the administration (i.c.v.) of the fluorescent compound in sesame oil with subsequent determination of optimal dose and the half-life of this compound within the membrane fraction. The dose giving maximum polarization was found to be 0.65 mumole, and pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that the disappearance of this analog followed a two-compartment open model with an elimination half-life from the membrane fraction of 655 hr. Increasing temperature of the membrane preparation showed an increase in polarization, indicating a consequent decrease in mobility of the molecule, while addition of a fluidizing agent like ethanol caused a decrease in polarization, and thus the expected increase in fluidity.

Animals↗