大鼠侧脑室及鞘内注射孤啡肽对痛反应及电针镇痛的影响

孤啡肽（ＯＦＱ）是最近发现的一种１７肽,为阿片受体家族中一个新成员－“孤儿受体”的内源性配基。ＯＦＱ在痛觉调制中的作用与内阿片肽明显不同。本实验在大鼠电刺激甩尾测痛模型上,观察了侧脑室（ＩＣＶ）及鞘内注射（ＩＴ）ＯＦＱ对伤害性电刺激引起的痛反应及电针镇痛的影响。结果发现,大量ＩＣＶ及ＩＴ０．１μｇ（０．０５５ｎｍｏｌ）ＯＦＱ对痛觉反应无影响,而１．０μｇ（０．５５ｎｍｏｌ）的ＯＦＱ可明显降低痛阈;     

孤啡肽（Orphanin－FQ）─—新发现的内阿片肽及其受体

孤啡肽（Ｏｒｐｈａｎｉｎ－ＦＱ）是最近发现的一个１７肽,其结构与已知的内阿片肽,尤其是强啡肽Ａ类似;但具有明显不同的药理学特性：与经典的阿片受体（μ、δ和）结合能力很弱,而与阿片受体家族中的一个新成员——“孤儿受体”（ｏｒｐｈａｎｒｅｃｅｐｔｏｒ）结合能力很强,因而认为是该受体的天然配基．孤啡肽脑室注射可使小鼠痛觉过敏,运动减少．孤啡肽受体是阿片受体家族中的新成员,属于Ｇ蛋白偶联受体,与经典的阿片受体配基亲和力均很弱．该受体激活后介导对腺苷酸环化酶活力的抑制．     

脑内发现全新的阿片受体样受体及其内源性配体

１９９４年克隆了一种孤儿受体－－阿片受体样受体。１９９５年又发现其内源性配体ＯＦＱ或Ｎｏｃｉｃｅｐｔｉｎ。ＯＲＬ受体与已知的阿片受体有５０％同源性,ＯＦＱ则与强啡肽Ａ化学结构高度相似,这两系统在功能上可能既有相反的作用,又有相似的作用,其详情正研究中。     

脑内阿片受体PET成像及其在痛与镇痛研究中的应用

脑内阿片受体在痛与镇痛中的作用机制一直是神经科学领域研究热点之一。正电子发射体层扫描(positron emission tomography,PET)是目前在体定量检测脑内相关分子参与神经信号转导的唯一途径。本文在简要回顾阿片受体和内源性阿片肽的发现、生理功能及其脑内分布的基础上,对已应用或有望应用于人体的阿片受体选择性和非选择性示踪剂及其在PET成像中的应用进行介绍,并对阿片成像结果所反映的神经机制进行解读。鉴于脑内阿片受体在介导痛与镇痛中的重要作用,文中着重就近年来有关痛与镇痛的脑内阿片受体PET成像研究进展予以综述。     

大鼠中脑导水管周围灰质微量注射孤啡肽对痛和针刺镇痛的影响

孤啡肽是新近发现的神经肽,结构与内阿片肽相似,但作用明显不同。本文采用脑核团内微量注射方法,在大鼠电刺激甩尾测痛模型上,观察ＯＦＱ在中脑导水管周围灰质内对痛和针刺镇痛的影响。结果表明：ＰＡＧ内微量注射ＯＦＱ可使大鼠痛阈降低,并明显对抗针刺镇痛;另外还发现,ＯＦＱ在ＰＡＧ内还可以对抗μ受体激动剂羟甲芬太尼加强针刺镇痛的效应。     

下丘脑室旁核微量注射DAGO或β-FNA对大鼠烫伤休克的影响

内源性阿片肽与烧伤休克有密切的关系。动物实验与临床研究均证实 ,烧伤后血浆及脑内内源性阿片肽含量显著升高 ,特异性阿片受体拮抗剂纳洛酮可抗烧伤性休克。我们以往的工作也证实 ,脑内一些区域烫伤后内源性阿片肽含量有明显变化 ,特别是下丘脑室旁核β 内啡肽含量在烫伤后有明显的升高。下丘脑室旁核是中枢神经系统调控心血管功能的重要部位 ,内源性阿片肽所起的作用及其机制 ,成为人们关注的课题。本工作在大鼠烫伤后 ,立即向下丘脑室旁核注射阿片 μ受体激动剂ＤＡＧＯ或其拮抗剂 β ＦＮＡ(β Ｆｕｎａｌｔｒｅｘａｍｉｎｅ) ,观察其…     

“内吗啡肽”的发现是阿片肽研究的一次突破

早在７０年代,人们即发现了内源性的δ阿片受体选择性配体（脑啡肽）和ｋ阿片受体选择性配体（强啡肽）,但一直未能找到内源性的μ阿片受体的选择性配体。１９９７年４月英国出版的“自然”杂志报道,发现了两种内源性的α阿片受体选择性配体,分别命名为ｅｎｄｏｍｏｒｐｈｉｎ－１（ＥＭ－１）和ｅｎｄｏｍｏｒｐｈｉｎ－２（ＥＭ－２）可译为“内吗啡肽”。本文拟就内吗啡肽的发现过程及其与其它内阿片肽的关系作一简要介绍。     

阿片受体研究最新进展

阿片受体研究自１９９２年δ受体克隆成功,发展迅速,１９９３年μ、ｋ受体也克隆成功。１９９４年发现阿片孤儿受体ＯＲＬ－１,１９９５年即找到了ＯＲＬ－１的内泊性本体Ｎｏｃｉｃｅｐｔｉｎ。１９９６年成功地应用基因敲出技术制成缺乏μ受体基因的小鼠,证明吗啡镇痛及成瘾形成通过μ受体。１９９７年又发现了μ受体内源性配体ｅｎｄｏｍｏｒｐｈｉｎｅ－１和ｅｎｄｏｍｏｒｐｈｉｎｅ－２,我国学者研究成功的羟甲芬太尼的八     

慢性吗啡耐受大鼠脑内孤啡肽生成与释放增加

本文彩放射免疫分析法测定了慢性吗啡耐受过程中大鼠脑室灌流液、中脑导水管周围灰质（ＰＡＧ）及杏仁核中孤啡肽（ＯＦＱ）免疫活性的动态变化。结果观察到：（１）大鼠连续５ｄ皮下注射递增剂量的盐酸吗中民慢性吗啡耐受,其脑室灌流中ＯＦＱ－ｉｒ随吗啡注射剂量和注射次数的增加逐渐上升,第５ｄ注射后较对照组升高了５２％;（２）皮下注射吗啡１ｄ、３ｄ、５ｄ的大鼠ＰＡＧ中ＯＦＱ－ｉｒ比对照组分别升高了１７％、４８％和８     

阿片受体介导大鼠海马内脑啡肽对细胞免疫功能的调节

以刀豆蛋白Ａ（ＣｏｎＡ）刺激的脾淋巴细胞增殖活性及自然杀伤细胞（ＮＫｃｅｌ）活性为细胞免疫功能检测指标,观察了阿片受体阻断剂纳洛酮（Ｎａｌｏｘｏｎｅ,ＮＬＸ）对大鼠海马内微量注射甲硫脑啡肽所致的免疫功能增强作用的影响。结果发现：（１）海马内微量注射白细胞介素１（ＩＬ１）诱导剂（细菌内毒素）脂多糖（ｌｉｐｏｐｏｌｙｓａｃｈａｒｉｄｅ,ＬＰＳ,５０ｎｇ／１μｌ）可降低机体免疫功能。（２）双侧海马内预先注射甲硫脑啡肽（ＭＥＮＫ,浓度：１０μｇ／μｌ）各１μｌ,可阻止脑内ＬＰＳ降低免疫功能的作用。（３）脑啡肽的这种作用可被阿片受体阻断剂纳洛酮（１０μｇ／１μｌ）阻断。（４）海马内单纯注射纳洛酮对机体免疫功能也起抑制作用。上述结果提示,海马内脑啡肽对免疫功能的增强作用是通过阿片受体介导的。     

Functional studies using antibodies against orphanin FQ/nociceptin

Orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ) is a recently discovered endogenous ligand for the novel opioid receptor-like receptor (ORL-1). There are numerous reports in the literature demonstrating paradoxical effects of exogenous OFQ on pain modulation. For example, OFQ produces a pronociceptive effect in the brain and an analgesic effect in the spinal cord. In order to better understand the physiological actions of OFQ, the present study focused on the pain-modulatory effect of endogenously released OFQ measured using antibody microinjection techniques. We found that electroacupuncture analgesia (EA) was increased by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of an OFQ-antibody and decreased following intrathecal injection. Furthermore, i.c.v. OFQ-antibody partially reversed tolerance to both chronic morphine and chronic EA. These data suggest that endogenously released OFQ plays an important role in pain modulation, where pain sensitivity in the brain and spinal cord is increased and decreased, respectively.     

Distinct effect of intracerebroventricular and intrathecal injections of nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the rat formalin test

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (nociceptin/OFQ), a newly discovered heptadecapeptide has been regarded as an endogenous ligand for orphan opioid receptor. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of nociceptin/OFQ on pain response and opioid analgesia in the rat formalin test. The results showed that intracerebroventricular injection of 1 microg nociceptin/OFQ enhanced the pain response, and 0.1 or 0.5 microg nociceptin/OFQ had no effect on formalin-induced pain. When 0.1 or 1 microg nociceptin/OFQ were used together with mu-, delta-, or kappa-opioid receptor agonists, endomorphin-1, DSLET or U50488H, respectively, it attenuated mu- and kappa- but not delta-receptor mediated analgesia. On the other hand, intrathecal injection of nociceptin/OFQ (0.1, 1 and 5 microg) reduced the pain response in the formalin test. In conclusion, nociceptin/OFQ potentiated formalin-induced pain response and antagonized opioid analgesia in the rat brain but inhibited pain response in the spinal cord.     

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ and related peptides reduce the increase in plasma corticosterone elicited in mice by an intracerebroventricular injection

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (=N/OFQ), the endogenous ligand of ORL1 receptor (=NOP), has been reported to induce, in rodents, after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration, anti-stress and anxiolytic effects. We have observed that the handling of mice followed by an i.c.v. injection of saline, induced a marked increase in the plasma corticosterone level (+250%) measured 30 minutes later. When N/OFQ was injected intracerebroventricularly, using a 1 microg dose, the increase in plasma corticosterone was significantly lower than in saline injected mice. N/OFQ(1-13)NH(2), known as a NOP receptor agonist, at the same 1 microg dose, also induced a lesser increase in plasma corticosterone level than a saline i.c.v. injection. The pseudopeptide [Phe(1)-psi(CH(2)-NH)Gly(2)]N/OFQ(1-13)NH(2), defined either as an agonist or an antagonist of NOP receptor, at the 0.1 microg dose, behaved in a similar manner as N/OFQ, by decreasing the plasma corticosterone level. Finally, [Nphe(1)]N/OFQ(1-13)NH(2), although presumed to be a selective NOP receptor antagonist, also decreased the corticosterone level at the 0.1 microg dose. These observations suggest the implication of N/OFQ in the regulation of response to stress, through an action on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Moreover, they evidence a similar effect of N/OFQ and N/OFQ(1-13)NH(2), but also of two other related peptides displaying antagonist properties on NOP receptors. These data suggest that several subtypes of N/OFQ receptors could exist.     

N-terminal modifications leading to peptide ORL1 partial agonists and antagonists.

Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is a 17 amino acid peptide that is the endogenous ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor (opioid receptor like 1, ORL1), a member of the opioid receptor family. Although it is clear that this receptor system is involved in a variety of physiological functions, including analgesia, the precise actions of N/OFQ remain largely uncharacterized. One reason for this has been limited high affinity ligands to ORL1, and particularly the lack of availability of useful specific antagonists. Herein we describe the pharmacological activity of a series of N-terminally modified hexapeptides with high affinity for ORL1. These compounds were tested for binding affinity using [3H]N/OFQ binding to human ORL1 in CHO cells, and functional activity by measuring stimulation of [35S]GTPgammaS binding in CHO cell membranes. The N-terminal modifications have produced compounds that maintained very high receptor affinity, but led to significant changes in intrinsic activity. One compound, pentanoyl-RYYRWR-NH2, with barely measurable agonist activity was tested in vivo. It was found to possess modest analgesic activity, but it was unable to block the morphine modulatory activity of N/OFQ.     

Involvement of ORL1 receptor and ERK kinase in the orphanin FQ-induced nociception in the nucleus accumbens of rats

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is a heptadecapeptide, which has been identified as an endogenous ligand of the opioid receptor-like (ORL1) receptor. The present study investigated the nociceptive effect of intra-nucleus accumbens (intra-NAc) injection of OFQ, and the involvement of ERK pathway in such effect. Intra-NAc injection of OFQ (0.1, 0.5, 1 nmol) dose-dependently decreased the nociceptive thresholds on the hindpaw withdrawal response to thermal and mechanical stimulation in rats. Moreover, the intra-NAc injection of OFQ-induced decreases in HWLs were antagonized by intra-NAc injection of (Nphe(1))nociceptin(1-13)NH(2), an antagonist of ORL1 receptor, in a dose-dependent way. Furthermore, the OFQ-induced nociception could be attenuated by pretreatment with the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis(2-aminopheylthio)butadiene (U0126). Our results demonstrate that OFQ induces nociceptive effects in NAc. The effect was blocked by the antagonist (Nphe(1))nociceptin(1-13)NH(2) and attenuated by U0126, suggesting that the activation of ERK pathways is involved in the OFQ-induced nociceptive effect in the NAc of rats.     

Peptide and nonpeptide ligands for the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor ORL1: research tools and potential therapeutic agents

The 17-amino acid neuropeptide nociceptin/Orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) was recently identified as the endogenous ligand for the opioid receptor-like (ORL1) receptor, a fourth member of the classical mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor family. Although ORL1 clearly belongs to the opioid receptor family, it does not bind classical opiates and the ORL1-N/OFQ system has pharmacological actions distinct from the opioid receptor system. This new ligand-receptor system has generated active interest in the opioid community because of its wide distribution and involvement in a myriad of neurological pathways. The past two years have witnessed tremendous advances in the design and discovery of very potent and selective peptide and nonpeptide agonist and antagonist ligands at ORL1. These discoveries have facilitated the understanding of the role of the ORL1-N/OFQ system in a variety of processes such as pain modulation, anxiety, food intake, learning, memory, neurotransmitter release, reward pathways, and tolerance development. The ORL1 receptor therefore represents a new molecular target for the design of novel agents for anxiety, analgesia, and drug addiction. Indeed, there is tremendous interest in the pharmaceutical industry in the development of nonpeptide ligands such as the potent ORL1 agonist, Ro 64-6198, as anxiolytics and the ORL1 antagonist JTC-801 as novel analgesics. This review presents an overview of the various peptide and nonpeptide ORL1 ligands with an emphasis on their potential therapeutic utility in various human disorders.     

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ prevents ethanol-induced gastric lesions in the rat

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), the endogenous ligand of the NOP receptor, exerts a variety of effects on the gastrointestinal tract. The present study was aimed at evaluating the possible implication of N/OFQ in the maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity. N/OFQ was given either centrally or peripherally 30 min prior to intragastric administration (i.g.) of 1 ml/rat of ethanol (either 25% or 50%, v/v), which produces macroscopically visible gastric lesions. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of 2 microg/rat of N/OFQ significantly reduced lesions caused by 50% ethanol, while 1 microg/rat was enough to significantly reduce lesions caused by 25% ethanol. Intracerebroventricular injection of 5 microg/rat of the selective NOP receptor antagonist, UFP-101, completely reversed the protective effect of N/OFQ, 1 or 4 microg/rat against 25% or 50% ethanol, respectively. The intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of N/OFQ produced a significant reduction of lesions induced by 50% ethanol, the peak effect being observed at 10 microg/kg. Intraperitoneal pretreatment with UFP-101, 120 microg/kg, completely abolished the protective effect of peripherally injected N/OFQ. Therefore, N/OFQ acts both centrally and peripherally as a protective agent against ethanol-induced gastric lesions, and its effect is mediated by NOP receptors.     

Supraspinal injection of Substance P attenuates allodynia and hyperalgesia in a rat model of inflammatory pain

The neuropeptide Substance P (SP), that has a high affinity for the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor, is involved in modulation of pain transmission. Although SP is thought to have excitatory actions and promote nociception in the spinal cord, the peptide induces analgesia at the supraspinal level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of supraspinal SP and the NK1 receptor in inflammatory pain induced by injection of carrageenan in the hind paw of the rat. There are two nociceptive behavioral responses associated with this pain state: mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia. Because the NK1 receptor colocalizes with the MOP receptor in supraspinal sites involved in pain modulation, we also decided to study the possible involvement of the opioid system on SP-induced analgesia. We found that treatment with SP, at doses of 3.5, 5 and 7 μg/5 μl/rat i.c.v., clearly showed inhibition of allodynia and hyperalgesia. Pretreatment with the selective NK1 antagonist L-733,060 (10mg/kg i.p.) blocked the SP-induced analgesia, suggesting the involvement of the NK1 receptor. This SP-induced analgesia was significantly reduced by administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone (3mg/kg s.c.). This reduction occurred when SP was administered either before or after the carrageenan injection. These results suggest a significant antinociceptive role for SP and the NK1 receptor in inflammatory pain at the supraspinal level, possibly through the release of endogenous opioids.     

Nocistatin: a novel neuropeptide encoded by the gene for the nociceptin/orphanin FQ precursor

We identified a novel neuropeptide and named it "nocistatin." Its presence was expected by analysis of the precursor for the neuropeptide nociceptin or orphanin FQ (Noc/OFQ), previously identified as an endogenous ligand for the orphan opioid receptor-like receptor. The precursor prepronociceptin/orphanin FQ (ppNoc/OFQ) comprises at least two bioactive peptides, nocistatin and Noc/OFQ. Noc/OFQ is involved in a broad range of pharmacological actions in various tissues from the central nervous system to the periphery. In pain transmission, Noc/OFQ is reported to have different effects including nociception, no effect, and analgesia, depending on the animal species tested, doses, route of administration, and so on. We found that intrathecal administration of Noc/OFQ induced pain responses including allodynia and hyperalgesia. Simultaneous administration of nocistatin blocked the allodynia and hyperalgesia induced by Noc/OFQ, whereas anti-nocistatin antibody decreased the threshold for the Noc/OFQ-induced allodynia. The endogenous heptadecapeptide nocistatin was isolated from bovine brains and recently identified in mouse, rat, and human brain and in human cerebrospinal fluid. Although human, rat and mouse ppNoc/OFQ produced larger respective counterparts with 30, 35, and 41 amino acid residues, all peptides showed the antinociceptive activity. This activity was ascribed to the carboxyl-terminal hexapeptide of nocistatin, Glu-Gln-Lys-Gln-Leu-Gln, which is conserved beyond species. Nocistatin also attenuated the allodynia and hyperalgesia evoked by prostaglandin E(2) and the inflammatory hyperalgesia induced by formalin or carrageenan/kaolin, and reversed the Noc/OFQ-induced inhibition of morphine analgesia at picogram doses. Furthermore, nocistatin counteracted the impairment of learning and memory induced by Noc/OFQ or scopolamine. Nocistatin is widely present in the spinal cord and brain. Although nocistatin did not bind to the Noc/OFQ receptor, it bound to the membrane of mouse brain and spinal cord with a high affinity. Nocistatin is a novel bioactive peptide produced from the same precursor as Noc/OFQ, and it plays important roles in the regulation of pain transmission and learning and memory processes in the central nervous system.