Stimulatory Effects of Opioid Neuropeptides on Locomotory Activity and Conformational Changes in Invertebrate and Human Immunocytes: Evidence for a Subtype of δ Receptor

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 86; no. 16; pp. 6307 - 6311
• Main Authors: Stefano, George B., Cadet, Patrick, Scharrer, Berta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 01.08.1989; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Bivalvia; Blood cells; Cell Movement - drug effects; Enkephalin, Methionine - analogs & derivatives; Enkephalin, Methionine - pharmacology; Enkephalins - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemocytes; Hemolymph; Humans; Immunocytes; In Vitro Techniques; Insecta; Invertebrates; Leukocytes; Ligands; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - physiology; Mollusca; Neuropeptides; Opioid analgesics; Physiology. Development; Receptors; Receptors, Opioid - drug effects; Receptors, Opioid - physiology; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Species Specificity; Structure-Activity Relationship; Motility; Leukocyte; Mytilus edulis; Enkephalin; Immunity; Neuropeptide; Marine environment; Opiate receptor; Image analysis; Optical microscopy; Bivalvia; Immunocyte; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Comparative study

The presence of opioid neuropeptides was shown to stimulate conformational changes and locomotory activity in immunocytes of two representatives of invertebrates as well as in human leukocytes. Cells were examined by use of phase-contrast and Nomarski optics coupled with a Zeiss Axiophot microscope,...