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Opioids Disrupt Ca2+Homeostasis and Induce Carbonyl Oxyradical Production in Mouse Astrocytesin Vitro:Transient Increases and Adaptation to Sustained Exposure

https://doi.org/10.1006/exnr.1998.6788Get rights and content

Abstract

Pharmacologically distinct subpopulations of astroglia express μ, δ, and/or κ opioid receptors. Activation of μ, δ, or κ opioid receptors can destabilize intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in astrocytes leading to cellular hypertrophy and reactive injury. To assess whether acute or sustained opioid exposure might adversely affect astroglial function by disrupting Ca2+homeostasis or by producing reactive oxygen species, fura-2 and a novel fluorescent-tagged biotin-4-amidobenzoic hydrazide reagent, respectively, were used to detect [Ca2+]iand carbonyl oxidation products within individual murine astrocytes. Acute (3 h) exposure to μ (H-Tyr-Pro-Phe (N-Me) -D-Pro-NH2; PLO17), δ ([D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin), and κ (trans-(±)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrr olidinyl) cyclohexyl] benzeneacetamide methanesulfonate; U50,488H) opioid agonists caused significant mean increases in [Ca2+]iand in the levels of oxidative products in astrocytes. In contrast, following 72 h of continuous opioid exposure, [Ca2+]iand carbonyl levels returned to normal, irrespective of opioid treatment. These preliminary findings indicate that opioids initially destabilize [Ca2+]iand increase reactive oxygen species in astrocytes; however, astrocytes later recover and adapt to sustained opioid exposure.

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    H. KettenmannB. R. Ransom

    1

    Present address: Department of Medicine, UCLA/SFVP, 16111 Plummer Street (MC151), Sepulveda, CA 91343. E-mail: [email protected].

    2

    Present address: Centaur Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 484 Oakmead Parkway, Sunnyvale, CA 94086.

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