Determinants of the stimulatory opioid effect on intracellular calcium in SK-N-SH and NG108-15 neuroblastoma.

Abstract

The opiate agonist etorphine elevated [Ca2+]i in two neuroblastoma cell lines. Fura-2 imaging of single cells revealed a small and variable calcium elevation in only 20% of cultures. Three factors were found to increase the probability (up to 70%) and the amplitude of the response to etorphine: (a) synchronization of the cultures; (b) differentiation of the cells; and (c) synergism with other stimulatory agents (carbachol in SK-N-SH and bradykinin in NG108-15 cells). The establishment of a reproducible experimental protocol may facilitate the study of the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the stimulatory activity of opiates.

• Authors: Y Sarne, M Gafni
• Journal: Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 722 Issue 1-2 Pg. 203-6 (May 25 1996) ISSN: 0006-8993 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 8813369 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Narcotics
• Etorphine
• Carbachol
• Bradykinin
• Calcium
• Fura-2

Topics

• Bradykinin (pharmacology)
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Carbachol (pharmacology)
• Cell Differentiation
• Drug Synergism
• Etorphine (pharmacology)
• Fura-2
• Intracellular Membranes (metabolism)
• Narcotics (pharmacology)
• Neuroblastoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Time Factors
• Tumor Cells, Cultured