TY - JOUR
T1 - Pharmacological characterization of [D-Ala2,Leu5,Ser6]enkephalin (DALES)
T2 - antinociceptive actions at the δnon-complexed-opioid receptor
AU - Mattia, Antonia
AU - Vanderah, Todd
AU - Mosberg, Henry I.
AU - Omnaas, John R.
AU - Bowen, Wayne D.
AU - Porreca, Frank
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by USPHS Grants DA 04285, DA 06284, DA 03910 and DA 03776 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Henry I. Mosberg is a recipient of a Research Scientist Development Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA00118). We thank Dr. Weislaw Kazmierski for helpful discussions. We are grateful to Ms. Cynthia Jorgensen for help with the preparation of this manuscript.
PY - 1991/1/17
Y1 - 1991/1/17
N2 - Substantial evidence has been accumulated which suggests that opioid δ receptors may be distinguished on the basis of their involvement in the modulation (i.e., increase or decrease in potency) of μ-mediated antinociception. On this basis, it has been hypothesized that some opioid δ receptors exist within a functional complex with μ receptors (δcomplexed (δcx) receptors) while other δ sites do not (δnon-complexed (δncx) receptors). Recent work with [D-Ala2,Leu5,Cys6]enkephalin (DALCE) has demonstrated that this compound produces initial antinociceptive actions, does not modulate morphine antinociception and appears to bind irreversibly to the δncx site, presumably by means of thiol-disulfide exchange between the receptor and the cysteine sulfhydryl group. To determine if a structural basis exists for actions at the hypothesized δncx receptor, in the present study we report the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of [D-Ala2,Leu5,Ser6]enkephalin (DALES), a close structural analogue of DALCE. If a structural basis for action at the δncx site exists, then DALES would be predicted to produce antinociception, fail to modulate morphine antinociception and, since it lacks the free sulfhydryl group present in DALCE, fail to exhibit irreversible antagonistic actions; these predictions were supported. Additionally, pretreatment with DALCE at - 24 h, but not with DALES, blocked DALES-induced antinociception. These observations in vivo support the concept of a structural basis for activity at the hypothesized δncx site and suggest that DALES, like DALCE, may be a useful probe for pharmacological characterization of putative δ receptor subtypes.
AB - Substantial evidence has been accumulated which suggests that opioid δ receptors may be distinguished on the basis of their involvement in the modulation (i.e., increase or decrease in potency) of μ-mediated antinociception. On this basis, it has been hypothesized that some opioid δ receptors exist within a functional complex with μ receptors (δcomplexed (δcx) receptors) while other δ sites do not (δnon-complexed (δncx) receptors). Recent work with [D-Ala2,Leu5,Cys6]enkephalin (DALCE) has demonstrated that this compound produces initial antinociceptive actions, does not modulate morphine antinociception and appears to bind irreversibly to the δncx site, presumably by means of thiol-disulfide exchange between the receptor and the cysteine sulfhydryl group. To determine if a structural basis exists for actions at the hypothesized δncx receptor, in the present study we report the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of [D-Ala2,Leu5,Ser6]enkephalin (DALES), a close structural analogue of DALCE. If a structural basis for action at the δncx site exists, then DALES would be predicted to produce antinociception, fail to modulate morphine antinociception and, since it lacks the free sulfhydryl group present in DALCE, fail to exhibit irreversible antagonistic actions; these predictions were supported. Additionally, pretreatment with DALCE at - 24 h, but not with DALES, blocked DALES-induced antinociception. These observations in vivo support the concept of a structural basis for activity at the hypothesized δncx site and suggest that DALES, like DALCE, may be a useful probe for pharmacological characterization of putative δ receptor subtypes.
KW - (Intracerebroventricular)
KW - DALES ([D-Ala,Leu,Ser]enkephalin)
KW - Enkephalins
KW - Opioid antinociception
KW - δ-Opioid receptors
KW - μ-Opioid receptors
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U2 - 10.1016/0014-2999(91)90227-H
DO - 10.1016/0014-2999(91)90227-H
M3 - Article
C2 - 1647317
AN - SCOPUS:0025978570
SN - 0014-2999
VL - 192
SP - 371
EP - 375
JO - European Journal of Pharmacology
JF - European Journal of Pharmacology
IS - 3
ER -