01 May 2006
Alcohol-, nicotine-, and cocaine-evoked release of morphine from invertebrate ganglia: Model system for screening drugs of abuse.
Wei Zhu, Kirk J Mantione, Federico M. Casares, Patrick Cadet, Thomas V. Bilfinger, Richard M. Kream, Sara Khalill, Satwinder Singh, George B StefanoMed Sci Monit 2006; 12(5): BR155-161 :: ID: 450280
Abstract
Background: Invertebrates express regulatory receptors, transporters, andchannels responsive to established drugs of abuse, many of which mediate their effects through catecholaminepathways. We hypothesized that invertebrate neural systems may serve as models by which to evaluate theinteractive pharmacological effects of these agents. Material/Methods: Ex vivo pharmacological trialsdetermined the effects of saturating levels of ethanol on morphine levels in pooled Mytilus edulis gangliavia HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection and/or HPLC/RIA analyses. Additional trials evaluated theability of ethanol, nicotine, and cocaine, to promote evoked release of [sup]125[/sup]I-labeled morphine fromneural tissues, because intrinsically low levels of morphine did not allow direct quantification of itsrelease. Results: Incubation of pooled M. edulis pedal ganglia with 200 mM ethanol (approximately 1%ethanol v/v) resulted in a two-fold increase in morphine concentration at 15 min, return to baselineat 30 min, and a 50% decrease in morphine concentration at 60 min. Separate incubations of pooled M.edulis pedal ganglia and H. americanus nerve cord with ethanol, cocaine, and nicotine resulted in a statisticallysignificant enhancement of [sup]125[/sup]I-trace labeled morphine release. Conclusions: The stimulatory effectsof ethanol, nicotine, and cocaine on cellular expression and release of endogenous morphine suggest convergentmechanisms underlying the reinforcing and addictive properties for a variety of drugs of abuse. The evolutionaryconservation of L-tyrosine as a common precursor to catecholamine and opiate/opioid signaling systemsmay define a functional triad involving endogenous morphine, dopamine, and other classes of addictivedrugs.
Keywords: Ethanol - pharmacology, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods, Cocaine - pharmacology, Ganglia, Invertebrate - physiology, Morphine - metabolism, Mytilus edulis, Nephropidae - physiology, Nicotine - pharmacology, Street Drugs - pharmacology
Editorial
01 May 2024 : Editorial
Editorial: First Regulatory Approval for Adoptive Cell Therapy with Autologous Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) – Lifileucel (Amtagvi)DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944927
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944927
In Press
12 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Preoperative Blood Transfusion Requirements for Hemorrhoidal Severe Anemia: A Retrospective Study of 128 Pa...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943126
12 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and 3 (TIMP-3) as New Markers of Acute Kidney Injury Afte...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943500
12 Mar 2024 : Review article
Optimizing Behçet Uveitis Management: A Review of Personalized Immunosuppressive StrategiesMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943240
12 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Metabolomic Alterations in Methotrexate Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe PsoriasisMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943360
Most Viewed Current Articles
17 Jan 2024 : Review article
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952