Coexistence of kappa- and delta-opioid receptors in rat spinal cord axons

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• 作者：Wessendorf ; Martin W. ; Dooyema ; Jeromy
• 关键词：Heterodimers ; Immunofluorescence ; Kappa2-opioid receptor ; Substantia gelatinosa ; Marginal zone ; Primary afferents ; Analgesia ; Pain
• 刊名：Neuroscience Letters
• 出版年：2001
• 出版时间：February 9, 2001
• 年：2001
• 卷：298
• 期：3
• 页码：151-154
• 全文大小：708 K

文摘

It has been found that heterodimers of kappa- and delta-opioid receptors can occur in vitro, but it has been unclear whether they also occur in intact animals. In the present study we examined whether kappa-delta heterodimers might occur in vivo by staining for these receptors with two-color fluorescence immunocytochemistry. Sections of rat spinal cord were double-stained using rabbit anti-kappa opioid receptor combined with rat anti-delta-opioid receptor. It was found that axons in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord were double-labeled. In addition, structures within axonal varicosities were sometimes double-labeled. We conclude that single axons, and single structures within axons, express both kappa- and delta-opioid receptors. These observations are consistent with heterodimers of these receptors existing in vivo.