Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 78 (1), 93-95 (1998)


Involvement of micro-Receptor in Endogenous Opioid Peptide-Mediated Inhibition of Acetylcholine Release From the Rat Stomach

Kunihiko Yokotani and Yoshitsugu Osumi

Department of Pharmacology, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan


Abstract: We examined the effect of endogenous opioid peptides on vagally evoked release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the isolated, vascularly perfused rat stomach. The vagus nerves were electrically stimulated twice at 2.5 Hz for 2 min, and test substances were administered during the second stimulation. beta-Endorphin (10-7 and 3 x 10-7 M), an endogenous nonselective agonist of micro-receptors, inhibited the release of ACh. However, [Leu5]-enkephalin, an endogenous nonselective agonist of delta-receptors, and U-50488, a kappa-receptor agonist, had no effect at a higher dose of 10-6 M. beta-Endorphin-induced inhibition was abolished by naloxone. Endomorphins 1 and 2 (3 x 10-7 and 10-6 M), endogenous selective agonists of micro-receptors, also inhibited the release of ACh. These results suggest that the micro-receptor is involved in the endogenous opioid peptide-induced inhibition of the release of ACh from the rat stomach.

Keywords: Acetylcholine release, Stomach, micro-Opioid receptor


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1998

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