Inhibitory effects of opioids on voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels and catecholamine secretion in cultured porcine adrenal chromaffin cells.

The inhibitory effects of opioids on voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) were investigated in cultured porcine adrenal chromaffin cells using whole-cell patch clamp technique. The effects of the opioid on Ca(2+) increase and catecholamine secretion induced by high K(+) were also examined in single cells by fura-2 microfluorimetry and amperometry. A depolarizing pulse to 0 mV (test pulse) from a holding potential of -80 mV evoked an inward barium current (I(Ba)), which was reversibly inhibited by methionine-enkephalin. This inhibitory effect of methionine-enkephalin was abolished by naloxone. Selective agonists of opioid receptor subtypes (DAMGO: mu, DPDPE: delta, U50488: kappa) dose-dependently inhibited I(Ba). In inhibitory potency, the order was DAMGO>U50488>DPDPE. These agonists applied sequentially produced a reversible I(Ba) inhibition in the same cells. The inhibitory effect of DAMGO on I(Ba) almost disappeared in the presence of omega-conotoxin GVIA but not omega-agatoxin IVA plus nifedipine. Application of a conditioning prepulse to +100 mV prior to the test pulse partly retrieved the I(Ba) inhibition by DAMGO, suggesting the involvement of voltage-sensitive components in opioid-induced VDCC inhibition. Intracellular application of GDPbetaS or GTPgammaS as well as pretreatment with pertussis toxin significantly reduced the extent of I(Ba) inhibition induced by DAMGO. DAMGO reversibly inhibited the Ca(2+) increase and catecholamine release induced by high K(+). RT-PCR revealed the expression of mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptor mRNAs in cultured adrenal chromaffin cells. These results suggest that porcine adrenal chromaffin cells possess mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptors and activation of opioid receptors mainly inhibits N-type VDCCs via pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins.