Abstract

Transmural nerve stimulation of isolated guinea-pig atria in the presence of atropine induced a biphasic positive inotropic effect but only a slow increase in contractility (NANC response) in atria obtained from 6-hydroxydopamine-pretreated animals. The latter effect disappeared after exposure of the preparations to capsaicin. The effects of some opioid peptides were investigated on NANC responses. [D-Ala 2,D-Leu 5]enkephalin (DADLE) and [D-Ala 2,N-Me-Phe 4 Gly 5-ol]enkephalin (DAGO, 0.1–10 μM) inhibited the cardiac response to transmural nerve stimulation in a dose-dependent and naloxone-sensitive manner. Dynorphin-(1–13) and morphine, at 10-fold higher concentrations (1–10 μM), reduced the response in a naloxone-sensitive manner. Naloxone alone however did not affect the response. Opioid peptides were not able to reduce the positive inotropic effect induced by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), or the increase in cardiac contractility produced by capsaicin. These results suggest that opioid receptors exert a modulatory role on peripheral terminals of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves.

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