Abstract
μ-Opioid receptors play a critical role in the regulation of the female reproductive cycle, and estrogen modulates the coupling of μ-opioid receptors to a potassium channel in the basal hypothalamus (BH) of the female guinea pig. Therefore, we ascertained the distribution of μ-opioid receptors in the BH with autoradiography using the μ-opioid selective agonist [ 3 H ]DAMGO. In addition, we investigated the effects of estrogen on DAMGO- or the GABA B receptor agonist baclofen-stimulated [ 35 S ]GTP γS binding in the BH. Based on the high density of μ-opioid receptors, but the lack of effects of estrogen on [ 35 S ]GTP γS binding, we conclude that μ-opioid receptor interaction with its G-protein is not the target of estrogen's actions.
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