Inhibition of dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase by opioids: possible involvement of physically associated mu- and delta-opioid receptors.

D-1 dopamine receptor-stimulated cyclic AMP efflux from rat neostriatal slices (induced by 30 microM dopamine + 10 microM (-)sulpiride) was concentration-dependently reduced by morphine, [D-Ala-D-Leu]-enkephalin (DADLE), [D-Pen-D-Pen]enkephalin (DPDPE) and bremazocine. Naloxone (0.1 microM) selectively antagonized the inhibitory effect of (a submaximally effective concentration of) morphine, whereas ICI 174864 (0.75 microM) completely blocked the inhibitory effects of DADLE, DPDPE and bremazocine without affecting that of morphine, indicating a role of mu- as well as delta-opioid receptors. Upon simultaneous activation of D-1 dopamine receptors and delta-opioid receptors the (mu-receptor-mediated) inhibitory effect of morphine was abolished, while it was not changed following simultaneous activation of D-1 and (inhibitory) D-2 dopamine receptors. Cyclic AMP efflux induced by isoprenaline or adenosine was not affected by the opioids and that induced by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was inhibited by morphine and DADLE only. In the latter case naloxone, but not ICI 174864, antagonized the inhibitory effects. These data show that D-1 dopamine receptor-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in rat neostriatum, but not that stimulated through other receptors, is inhibited by two pharmacologically distinct opioid receptor subtypes. It is speculated that these mu- and delta-opioid receptors share a common inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein and may represent closely associated recognition sites of a functional opioid receptor complex.