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 hypothalarnus (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 [3H]DAMGO. In addition, we investigated the effects of estrogen on DAMGO- or the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen-stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding in the BH. Based on the high density of μ-opioid receptors, but the lack of effects of estrogen on [35S]GTPγS binding, we conclude that μ- opioid receptor interaction with its G-protein is not the target of estrogen's actions.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 341-346 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Brain research |
Volume | 791 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 27 1998 |
Keywords
- Baclofen
- DAMGO
- Estrogen
- G-protein
- GTPγS
- μ-Opioid receptor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Neurology
- Developmental Biology