δ-Opioid Receptors as a Target in Designing New Cardioprotective Drugs: the Role of Protein Kinase C, AMPK, and Sarcolemmal K Channels.

In rats anesthetized with α-chloralose, coronary artery occlusion (45 min) and reperfusion (120 min) were modeled. The selective δ-opioid receptor agonist deltorphin II was administered 5 min before reperfusion. Protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine, AMP-activated protein kinase inhibitor compound C, and ATP-sensitive K channel blockers glibenclamide, 5-hydroxydecanoate, and HMR 1098 were administered 10 min before reperfusion. It was found that the infarct-limiting effect of deltorphin II is associated with activation of protein kinase C and opening of sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive K channel.