Marzullo G, Hine B
Science. 1980 Jun 6;208(4448):1171-3. doi: 10.1126/science.6246583.
Cupric ion, a thiol oxidant, caused naloxone-reversible analgesia when injected intracerebroventricularly in mice; its potency was close to that of morphine. Dithiothreitol, a thiol reductant, reversed the analgesia induced by cupric ion and antagonized analgesia induced by morphine. Oxidized dithiothreitol had no effect. These findings, together with evidence for redox modification of opiate receptor binding in vitro, suggest that a mechanism of oxidation-reduction of thiols may modulate opiate receptor function.
铜离子是一种硫醇氧化剂，当向小鼠脑室内注射时会引起纳洛酮可逆性镇痛；其效力与吗啡相近。二硫苏糖醇是一种硫醇还原剂，可逆转铜离子诱导的镇痛作用，并拮抗吗啡诱导的镇痛作用。氧化型二硫苏糖醇则无此作用。这些发现，连同体外阿片受体结合的氧化还原修饰证据，表明硫醇的氧化还原机制可能调节阿片受体功能。
