PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - M C Olianas AU - P Onali TI - Characterization of opioid receptors mediating stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in rat olfactory bulb. DP - 1992 Jul 01 TA - Molecular Pharmacology PG - 109--115 VI - 42 IP - 1 4099 - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/42/1/109.short 4100 - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/42/1/109.full SO - Mol Pharmacol1992 Jul 01; 42 AB - We have investigated the pharmacological profile of the opioid stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in rat olfactory bulb, in order to identify the opioid receptor subtype(s) involved in this response. The synthetic delta-selective agonists (D-Ala2)deltorphin I, (2-D-penicillamine,5-D-penicillamine)-enkephalin, and (D-Ser-Leu5-enkephalyl)-threonine were effective stimulators of the enzyme activity, with EC50 values of 6.7, 420, and 63 nM, respectively. A significant increase was also observed with the mu-selective agonists (N-methyl-Phe3,D-Pro4)-morphiceptin, dermorphin, and (D-Ala2-N-methyl-Phe4-Gly-ol5)-enkephalin (DAGO). The latter two agonists displayed biphasic concentration-response curves, with high affinity components accounting for 75-80% of the maximal responses. The kappa-selective agonists U-50,488 and U-69,593 were ineffective, whereas (D-Ala2)dynorphin A-1-11, dynorphin A, dynorphin A-1-13, and dynorphin A-1-6 acted with a rank order of potency consistent with their affinity for delta receptors. The stimulatory responses of Leu-enkephalin, beta-endorphin, dynorphin A, and delta-selective agonists were counteracted by naltrindole with pA2 values of 9.39-8.93, whereas naloxone was less potent (pA2 = 8.17-7.59). The kappa-selective antagonist norbinaltorphimine was the least potent. The inhibition by naltrindole and naloxone of DAGO stimulation showed biphasic curves, with 90% of the response being antagonized more potently by naloxone than by naltrindole. These results demonstrate that delta- and mu- but not kappa-opioid receptor subtypes stimulate basal adenylate cyclase activity in rat olfactory bulb.