Abstract

Prolonged agonist stimulation of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) initiates receptor regulatory events that rapidly attenuate receptor-mediated signaling (homologous desensitization). Emerging evidence suggests that persistent MOR stimulation can also reduce responsiveness of effectors to other G-protein-coupled receptors, termed heterologous desensitization. However, the mechanisms by which heterologous desensitization is triggered by MOR stimulation are unclear. This study used whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of ligand activated G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium channel currents in mouse brain slices containing locus ceruleus (LC) neurons to determine the effects of prolonged stimulation of MOR on α₂-adrenoceptor (α₂-AR) function. The results show distinct and sequential development of homologous and heterologous desensitization during persistent stimulation of MOR in LC neurons with Met⁵-enkephalin (ME). ME stimulation of MOR promoted rapid homologous desensitization that reached a steady state after 5 min and partially recovered over 30 min. Longer stimulation of MOR (10 min) induced heterologous desensitization of α₂-AR function that exhibited slower recovery than homologous desensitization. Heterologous (but not homologous) desensitization required β-arrestin-2 (βarr-2) because it was nearly abolished in βarr-2-knockout (ko) mice. Heterologous (but not homologous) desensitization was also prevented by inhibition of ERK1/2 and c-Src signaling in wild-type (wt) mouse LC neurons. Heterologous desensitization may be physiologically relevant during exposure to high doses of opioids because α₂-AR-mediated slow inhibitory postsynaptic currents were depressed in wt but not βarr-2 ko LC neurons after prolonged exposure to opioids. Together, these findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which βarr-2 can regulate postsynaptic responsiveness to neurotransmitter release.