Delta opioid receptor mediates phospholipase C activation via Gi in Xenopus oocytes.

Cloned mouse delta-subtype opioid receptor (DOR1) was expressed in Xenopus oocytes to study the signal transduction. Opioid delta-agonists evoked a calcium-dependent chloride current in oocytes injected with mRNA derived from DOR1, together with that from the alpha subunit of Gi1. The delta-agonist-induced current was blocked by naltrindol, a delta-specific antagonist. The delta-agonist evoked no or very weak currents in oocytes with the alpha subunit of Gq or G(o). These findings indicate the functional coupling between the opioid delta-receptor and phospholipase C through an activation of Gi.