Premium
Chronic Morphine Administration Increases β‐Adrenergic Receptor Kinase (βARK) Levels in the Rat Locus Coeruleus
Author(s) -
Terwilliger Rose Z.,
Ortiz Jordi,
Guitart Xavier,
Nestler Eric J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1994.63051983.x
Subject(s) - locus coeruleus , beta adrenergic receptor kinase , morphine , endocrinology , medicine , immunolabeling , adrenergic receptor , receptor , beta (programming language) , chemistry , biology , pharmacology , central nervous system , g protein coupled receptor , immunohistochemistry , computer science , programming language
Based on the established role of β‐adrenergic receptor kinase (βARK) and β‐arrestin in the desensitization of several G protein‐coupled receptors, we investigated the effect of chronic morphine administration on βARK and β‐arrestin levels in selected brain areas. Levels of βARK were measured by blot immunolabeling analysis using antibodies specific for two known forms of βARK, i.e., βARK1 and βARK2. It was found that chronic morphine treatment produced an ∼35% increase in levels of βARK1 immunoreactivity in the locus coeruleus, but not in several other brain regions studied. In contrast, chronic morphine treatment failed to alter levels of βARK2 immunoreactivity in any of the brain regions studied. Levels of β‐arrestin immunoreactivity, measured using an antiserum that recognizes two major forms of this protein in brain, were also found to increase (by ∼20%) in the locus coeruleus. It is proposed that chronic morphine regulation of βARK1 and β‐arrestin levels may contribute to opioid‐receptor tolerance that is known to occur in this brain region.