The specific opioid kappa-agonist U-50,488H inhibits low Km GTPase.

DAGO, a specific opioid mu-agonist stimulated the low Km GTPase activity of membranes of the guinea-pig striatum at 1-1000 nM and this effect was antagonized by naloxone 10-100 nM. On the other hand, U-50,488H, a specific opioid kappa-agonist inhibited the low Km GTPase activity of membranes of the guinea-pig cerebellum at 1-100 nM. As this effect was antagonized by MR2266 but not by naloxone, the findings suggest that opioid mu- and kappa-receptor stimulation is probably linked to the stimulation and inhibition of low Km GTPase, respectively.