Does interferon exert its actions through opiate receptors

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) Vol. 35; no. 9; p. 1015
• Main Authors: Reyes-Vazquez, C, Weisbrodt, N, Dafny, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 27.08.1984
• Subjects: Animals; Guinea Pigs; Ileum - drug effects; Interferon Type I - pharmacology; Iontophoresis; Male; Morphine - pharmacology; Muscle Contraction - drug effects; Naloxone - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, Opioid - metabolism; Somatosensory Cortex - cytology; Somatosensory Cortex - drug effects
• ISSN: 0024-3205
• DOI: 10.1016/0024-3205(84)90668-4

It had been reported that alpha interferon (alpha-IFN) induces endorphin-like effects such as analgesia and catatonia. These effects, reversed and prevented by naloxone, suggest that the alpha-IFN effect is mediated via opiate receptors. In order to examine this hypothesis, the present study was initiated. Extracellular cortical cell recording and microiontophoretic application of alpha-IFN, morphine, and naloxone, as well as the application of these three drugs on the coaxially stimulated guinea-pig ileum preparation were used. alpha-IFN application induced excitation in cortical cells and on the guinea-pig ileum. In contrast, the main effect elicited by morphine was a decrease in both preparations. Naloxone was able to reverse and/or prevent the morphine effects in both preparations, but failed to alter the effects induced by alpha-IFN. The present observations using the guinea-pig ileum preparation and cortical neurons recording failed to support the hypothesis that alpha-IFN effects are mediated via opiate receptors.