Abstract
Brain cells from rat embryos that were cultured in serum-free medium form aggregates which possess stereospecific binding of radioactive opiates. The specificity of these opiate receptors and their regulation by opiate alkaloids and enkephalin was studied. D-ala 2, D-leu 5-enkephalin (DADL) induced down-regulation of opiate receptors in aggregates prepared from the forebrain but had no effect on hindbrain aggregates, whereas the potent alkaloid etorphine induced down-regulation of the receptors in both tissues. Interestingly, morphine did not induce down-regulation in both tissues. The significance of these findings and their relationship to the control of different types of opiate receptors are discussed.
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