Opiorphin causes a panicolytic-like effect in rat panic models mediated by μ-opioid receptors in the dorsal periaqueductal gray

• Published in: Neuropharmacology Vol. 101; pp. 264 - 270
• Main Authors: Maraschin, Jhonatan Christian, Rangel, Marcel Pereira, Bonfim, Antonio Joaquim, Kitayama, Mariana, Graeff, Frederico Guilherme, Zangrossi, Hélio, Audi, Elisabeth Aparecida
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Dorsal periaqueductal gray; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Administration Schedule; Endogenous opioids; Escape panic models; Escape Reaction - drug effects; Male; Oligopeptidase inhibitor; Oligopeptides - pharmacology; Opiorphin; Panic - drug effects; Periaqueductal Gray - drug effects; Periaqueductal Gray - physiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Opioid, mu - metabolism; Salivary Proteins and Peptides - pharmacology; Somatostatin - analogs & derivatives; Somatostatin - pharmacology; μ-opioid receptor; Escape panic models; Oligopeptidase inhibitor; Opiorphin (PubChem CID: 25195667); CTOP (PubChem CID: 5311058); Dorsal periaqueductal gray; Endogenous opioids; Opiorphin; μ-opioid receptor
• ISSN: 0028-3908; 1873-7064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.09.008

Reported evidence indicates that endogenous opioid peptides regulate the expression of escape behavior in rats, a panic-related defensive response, through μ-opioid receptors (MORs) in the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG). These peptides are rapidly catabolized by degrading enzymes, including neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and aminopeptidase N (APN). Opiorphin is a peptide inhibitor of both NEP and APN and potentiates the action of endogenous enkephalins. This study evaluated the effects of intravenous and intra-dPAG administration of opiorphin on escape responses in the elevated T-maze and in a dPAG electrical stimulation test in rats. We also evaluated the involvement of MORs in the effects of opiorphin using the selective MOR antagonist CTOP. A dose of 2.0 mg/kg, i.v., of opiorphin impaired escape performance in both tests. Similar effects were observed with intra-dPAG administration of 5.0 nmol of opiorphin. Local pretreatment with 1.0 nmol CTOP antagonized the anti-escape effects of intra-dPAG opiorphin in both tests, as well as the effect of systemically administered opiorphin (2.0 mg/kg, i.v.) in the electrical stimulation test. These results indicate that opiorphin has an antipanic-like effect that is mediated by MORs in the dPAG. They may open new perspectives for the development of opiorphin analogues with greater bioavailability and physicochemical characteristics in the pursuit of new medications for the treatment of panic disorder. •Opiorphin causes a panicolytic-like effect in rat models of panic.•μ-opioid receptor activation is critical for the panicolytic-like effect of opiorphin.•Opiorphin does not interfere with inhibitory avoidance acquisition or locomotion.