Characterization of opioid, sigma, and phencyclidine receptors in the neuroblastoma-brain hybrid cell line NCB-20

L Kushner, SR Zukin and RS Zukin

Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461.

Opioid, sigma, and phencyclidine (PCP) receptors were characterized in the mouse neuroblastoma--Chinese hamster brain hybrid cell line NCB-20. Quantitative receptor assays under equilibrium binding conditions with highly specific radioligands demonstrated the presence of delta, but not mu or kappa, opioid receptors on NCB-20 cell membranes. NCB-20 cells were shown to possess two distinct sites specific for sigma opioids and PCP derivatives. One site was labeled by (+)-[3H]N- allylnormetazocine [(+)-[3H]SKF-10,047] (Kd = 69 nM; Bmax = 4100 fmol/mg of protein). The rank order of potency of drugs at this site was (+)-3-(3-hydroxy-phenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine [(+)-3-PPP] greater than haloperidol greater than (+)-SKF-10,047 greater than (+/-)- ethylketocyclazocine greater than (+/-)-bremazocine greater than N-[1- (2-thienyl) cyclohexyl]piperidine (TCP) greater than dexoxadrol. This site is similar in its ligand selectivity to the haloperidol-sensitive sigma receptor of rat brain. The other site was labeled by the potent phencyclidine derivative [3H]TCP (Kd = 335 nM; Bmax = 9300 fmol/mg of protein). This density is equivalent to approximately 60,000 sites/cell. The rank order of potency of drugs at this site was TCP greater than (+)-3-PPP greater than PCP greater than dexoxadrol greater than haloperidol greater than cyclazocine greater than levoxadrol greater than (+)-SKF-10,047; mu and delta ligands were inactive. This site is similar to the rat brain PCP receptor. The NCB-20 cell line is the only cultured cell line that has been demonstrated to have PCP receptors.

Volume 34, Issue 5, pp. 689-694, 11/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics