The aim of the planned research is the study of the effects of opiates on single neurons of the mammalian brain. The techniques used will be electrophysiological and histological. The excitable properties and synaptic connections of single neurons in the isolated locus coeruleus of the rat will be measured with intracellular recording. Slices of pons will be maintained in vitro for several hours to days, and drugs and opioid peptides will be applied by adding them to the perfusing solution or by pressure ejection from micropipettes. The mechanism of the acute hyperpolarizing effect of opiates will be investigated by changing the ionic environment of the cells. The effects of exogenous opioid peptides will be compared with the effects of endogenous synaptic transmitters released by nerve stimulation, with particular reference to ionic mechanism and sensitivity to enantiomers of opiate antagonists. The effects of prolonged exposure to opiate agonists both in vitro and in vivo will be examined in an effort to elucidate the changes in neuronal excitability which underlie tolerance and dependence. The proposed study represents a most direct way to investigate the actions of opiates on the signalling function of neurons in a brain region known to be pivotal to opiate action. It avoids many of the pitfalls of in vivo extracellular recording yet is more directly relevant than studies on peripheral tissue or cultured neurons. The results are expected to elucidate the primary actions of opiates on neurons, to differentiate between these actions and the long term effects which form the basis of tolerance and dependence, and to establish any functional role which may exist for endogenous opioid peptides at the single neuron level.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA003161-06
Application #
3207733
Study Section
(DABB)
Project Start
1981-07-01
Project End
1987-12-31
Budget Start
1986-01-01
Budget End
1986-12-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02139
Pessia, M; Jiang, Z G; North, R A et al. (1994) Actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine on ventral tegmental area neurons of the rat in vitro. Brain Res 654:324-30
Seutin, V; Johnson, S W; North, R A (1994) Effect of dopamine and baclofen on N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced burst firing in rat ventral tegmental neurons. Neuroscience 58:201-6
Jiang, Z G; Pessia, M; North, R A (1994) Neurotensin excitation of rat ventral tegmental neurones. J Physiol 474:119-29
Tanaka, E; North, R A (1994) Opioid actions on rat anterior cingulate cortex neurons in vitro. J Neurosci 14:1106-13
Shen, K Z; North, R A (1993) Excitation of rat locus coeruleus neurons by adenosine 5'-triphosphate: ionic mechanism and receptor characterization. J Neurosci 13:894-9
Sugita, S; Tanaka, E; North, R A (1993) Membrane properties and synaptic potentials of three types of neurone in rat lateral amygdala. J Physiol 460:705-18
Seutin, V; Johnson, S W; North, R A (1993) Apamin increases NMDA-induced burst-firing of rat mesencephalic dopamine neurons. Brain Res 630:341-4
Piguet, P; North, R A (1993) Opioid actions at mu and delta receptors in the rat dentate gyrus in vitro. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 266:1139-49
Piguet, P (1993) GABAA- and GABAB-mediated inhibition in the rat dentate gyrus in vitro. Epilepsy Res 16:111-22
Sugita, S; North, R A (1993) Opioid actions on neurons of rat lateral amygdala in vitro. Brain Res 612:151-5

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